Local Candidates Encourage Democrats To Vote March 2

Eureka, CA - On Sunday, local Democrats gathered at the Wharfinger Building for an afternoon convention.

The convention gave Democrats the opportunity to hear speeches by local Democratic candidates and representatives for state candidates and candidates vying for the presidential Democratic nomination.

Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos spoke to the group. On March 2 county voters will decide if they want to recall Gallegos.

Gallegos said several weeks after he took office in January 2003, he found out that The Pacific Lumber Co. may have committed wrongdoing in the 1999 sale of the headwaters Forest.

He said because of the evidence his investigation found, he was “legally and morally obligated” to file the suit.

“Rest assured I knew there would be political consequences,” Gallegos said.

He said soon after, the recall effort began. As of January PALCO had funded 93 percent of the recall effort.

“Make no mistake, this recall is almost completely funded by … defendant PL,” Gallegos said.

He said he has an obligation to the community to fulfill his four-year term with courage and intends to do so.

Gallegos said on March 2 voters will have the chance to decide whether the District Attorney’s Office belongs to a corporation or the people of Humboldt County. He encouraged voters to vote no on the recall.

“I will not be intimidated and I am not,” Gallegos said.

Candidates for 2nd District Supervisor Sal Steinberg and Bud Rogers also addressed voters.

Steinberg started his speech by saying he was against the recall election and in support of Gallegos.

He said if elected he will work to actualize the county’s strategy for its economic plan, the Prosperity Plan.

Steinberg said he would work to expand tourism by proposing a train from Alton to Eureka, as well as proposing a recreational vehicle park in Weott to help that town’s economy.

He said he would also work to build the Humboldt Bay Port to make it a “beautiful Victorian Seaport” and “not as the home of Calpine,” which may propose a liquid natural gas facility for the Samoa Peninsula.

Steinberg said restoring watersheds is also on his list of priorities He said corporate responsibility is also a “key” issue in the 2nd District, because PALCO is in the district and employs more than 1,000 people.

Rogers said all the major problems he sees, including being overcharged for such things as electricity, food and gasoline, seem to stem from corporations.

“Corporations lack any morals, their only motivation is greed,” he said. “What we are witnessing is the death of the family farm.”

Rogers said small business is the emphasis of his campaign and if elected he will work to show the connection between county and national issues.

Following local candidates’ speeches, local representatives for U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, Congressman Mike Thompson and Assemblywoman Patty Berg addressed the audience.