With only a few weeks to go, it is getting close to the wire in the important Riverside County DA Race. Incumbent Paul Zellerbach has stumbled badly with sign gate. His energetic opponent Mike Hestrin has played it cool and continues to hammer Judge Z with attacks on office morale and crime statistics. Zellerbach has tried hard to link Hestrin with former DA Rod Pacheco, a Colonel Flagg from MASH like character. Hestrin is endorsed by the Desert Sun and Zellerbach by the Press Enterprise.
Where We Stand Now: Right now I think the challenger has a lead. One wild card may be how the public feels about the funding for Hestrin's campaign. Hovering over the campaign like Banquo"s ghost,are huge donantions from the Deputy DA's union, Riverside Sheriff's Association and local police unions. Most of the police groups have achieved some form of infamy over the last few years with the funding of sleazy attack ads against opponents both real and imaginary. The DA's association of course has a very vested interest in who their boss is.
I interviewed Mr. Hestrin and was impressed with his manner and decorum. He came across as calm and dself-assured. I am awaiting a response from Judge Zellerbach. Mr. Hestrin has denied he is linked at all to Rod Pacheco and also says he will be a capable administrator. He has also been endorsed by former DA Grover "BBK Rainmaker" Trask. Trask literally lives next door to Zellerbach. Awkward.
Another wild card in the race is how much the sign gate aspect of the story has penetrated Western Riverside County. The media market for them is LA and I doubt the Great Indio Blvd Sign Massacre has gotten as much notice there. Out here in the desert we have been inundated with a ton of sign reportage. (One station in fact is using it as TV promo material!! Bad form.)
This election should prove fascinating.
Steve Kelly can be heard everyday on 1450 KPTR Palm Springs or on 1450kptr.com from 4p to 6p Pacific
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