Sometimes a negative campaign works; sometimes it creates a
backlash.
Sometimes a negative campaign works; sometimes it creates a backlash.
Sometimes a negative campaign advertisement reveals hidden truths about an opponent and sometimes it reveals more truth about the candidate running it.
Underdog candidate Ignacio Velazquez has taken a negative track on the campaign trail, vying with Salinas Mayor Anna Caballero in the race for the 28th District Assembly seat left open by termed-out assemblyman Simon Salinas. Velazquez’s most recent mailers slam Caballero for defending some of the worst crooks and killers in the county during her time as a criminal defense attorney in Hollister. One of Velazquez’s mailings criticized Caballero for defending Gustavo Marlow, who was convicted for the 1988 rape and murder of two Hollister women. Velazquez’s campaign writes, “Salinas Mayor Anna Caballero has made a career of defending murderers, gang members, rapists and even child molesters!”
It isn’t that Velazquez has done something with these ads that is unheard of in San Benito County politics. Velazquez’s ads aim low, but they don’t compare to the cheap shots taken against local attorney Art Cantu during the heated June primary race for district attorney. Negative campaign advertisements are as much a part of politics as baby kissing and hand shaking, but we expect more from Velazquez. As a successful business owner and community leader, Velazquez should have taken the high road.
To be certain, Velazquez can run his election how he sees fit. We simply feel he should have spent more of his time and money highlighting his strengths as a political outsider committed to making sure district taxpayers get the most out of the millions of dollars they send to Sacramento each year. To be sure, Velazquez has a lot to offer voters, but his negative tactics on the campaign trail give cause for concern.
Velazquez’s largely self-funded campaign war chest is, in some ways, refreshing. Both Democrats and Republicans can appreciate a candidate who turns down special interest money. Perhaps Velazquez did spend his hard-earned money well. We’ll see what the voters think.
Wouldn’t it have been something, if instead of spending thousands of dollars to send out mailers and run TV ads criticizing Caballero for doing her job defending criminals and voting to close libraries in Salinas, if Velazquez had instead taken that money and used it support local libraries, not just in San Benito County, but in Salinas? Writing a $5,000 donation check to a Salinas library after Caballero’s vote would have sent a much stronger message to voters and would have been a refreshing strategy. It would have sent the message that Velazquez is concerned about the fate of our public libraries and not just interested in advancing his own political agenda and finding fault with his opponent.
But we understand that Velazquez is simply plying standard election politics. It will be interesting to see how voters feel about his strategy.
