Eye Correspondent

EUREKA – District Attorney Paul Gallegos has said that a personnel issue is being investigated in connection to an ongoing failure to claim reimbursements for upfront spending of grant money.

Unclaimed reimbursements were probed by the county’s Grand Jury last year and Gallegos disagreed with its findings. Recent events have led to a reversal, however.

The California Emergency Management Agency’s concerns about a lack of communication about various public safety grants contributed to the launch of an investigation into the performance of one employee.

Gallegos said ongoing gaps in reimbursement claims have been confirmed.

“Have there been grants where we haven’t claimed all the money awarded to us – absolutely,” he said. “There have been times when we have not claimed the amounts of grants.”

Gallegos said the issue of unclaimed reimbursements probably won’t affect the viability of grants that are currently active or pending.

“I don’t think it will result in us losing funding or diminish our capacity to do work,” he continued.

The Grand Jury made its findings in the midst of a sharply-fought DA election campaign. There were speculations that the findings were politically motivated and Gallegos refuted them assertively.

The findings focused on administration of grants, particularly one associated with the DA’s victim-witness assistance program.

The Grand jury found that victim-witness grant fund reimbursements for at least two quarters of fiscal year 2006-07 were not claimed, “Resulting in the loss of significant reimbursement monies to the county.”

Related findings were that county General Fund money “made up the victim-witness reimbursement shortfall” and that “grant applications have not always been properly processed, resulting in the loss of potential funds to the county.”

In his response, Gallegos said that the Grand Jury failed to consider the full cycle of grant funding. “A review of the complete cycle of the grants at issue will reveal both: 1) that all quarters of the victim-witness grant were submitted for the fiscal year 2006-2007 and 2) the county lost no reimbursement monies,” he wrote.

But the employee-related investigation has led Gallegos to conclude that he was probably wrong. “I question the accuracy of my response,” he said, adding that he based it on “information I was receiving at the time.”

The response wasn’t politically motivated, he continued. “I refuted (the finding) because I believed it was wrong, not because there was a campaign going on,” he said.

Gallegos said he requested the investigation and the county hired an independent investigator to do it.

For now, Gallegos is retracting his Grand Jury response based on what’s been discovered so far.

“I can’t say that it was accurate and if it’s not, my apologies to the Grand Jury,” he said. “I am currently looking into it and people have the right to be upset – it’s an appropriate response to that.”

The employee whose performance is being investigated is on administrative leave. The recent revelations will influence a variety of improvements, similar to the ones the Grand Jury had recommended.

“The consequence is that we will put in better monitoring systems and checks and balances,” said Gallegos.

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Eye Correspondent

HUMBOLDT – Responding to a state agency’s concerns about grant management, the county’s District Attorney has called for an investigation that’s focusing on the actions of one of his employees.

District Attorney Paul Gallegos said that at his request, the county has hired an investigator to look into suspected mismanagement of several public safety grants from the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA).

Originally reported by KIEM News Channel 3 last week, the investigation ensued when CalEMA informed Gallegos that county public safety agencies weren’t being notified of the availability of hundreds of thousands of dollars of grant monies.

Gallegos said that “the status of the grants is fine and the money is there” but it hasn’t been allocated to the Sheriff’s Office and other county agencies because of a “communication breakdown.”

The DA said the problem is a personnel issue, which requires confidentiality.

Brad Alexander, CalEMA’s public information officer, said the county’s investigator has contacted his agency but “no information has been exchanged yet.” He added, “There is anticipation of requests of communication exchanges” such as e-mails.

The investigation is “totally isolated to one particular individual in the DA’s Office,” said Alexander. He said his agency typically only deals with one or two individuals when grants are administrated.

The grants at issue are a $162,949 Anti Drug Abuse Enforcement grant, a $184,793 Victim Witness Assistance grant and a $133,000 Unserviced Population grant for Native American tribes. Most of the first two grants have been paid out to the county but no payments have been made on the latter grant.

Alexander said the Sheriff’s Office is eligible to get the grant funding and wasn’t notified. “The money was waiting for them and they weren’t aware the money was set aside for them,” he continued. “Clearly, this is a communication issue and it seems this one individual was sitting on their hands as far as notifying the locals that the money was available.”

The outcome of the investigation will determine whether the money was improperly spent, said Alexander, and the “severity of the issue” will determine whether or not the grants will be rescinded.

He said the lack of communication about grant administration was so conspicuous that officials from his agency travelled to Humboldt in December of last year to inquire about it.

“Management papers weren’t being filed and the state doesn’t like to delay getting money to locals,” he continued.

“That’s part of the problem we’re trying to fix,” said Gallegos. “There were issues with providing documentation by my office and this is what we’re trying to fix – and actually, it is fixed and will remain fixed.”

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Eye Correspondent

HUMBOLDT –The county’s District Attorney has confirmed that the California Department of Justice is investigating the embezzlement of a significant amount of money from the local court system.

Rumors about the probe have been circulating and District Attorney Paul Gallegos said that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is indeed doing an investigation.

He added that his office has received some reports on the matter and there is “some additional investigation going on.”

There is suspicion that there’s been theft of restitution fees paid to the court system in cash, the DA said.

“We can prove that a large sum of money was stolen,” he added.

Gallegos said the court system requested the probe. He said he couldn’t comment further because the investigation is ongoing.

Calls to the DOJ’s press office weren’t answered by press time.

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My office knows that we are the face of government that much of the public sees.  Faith in a system of just laws and fairness requires us to conduct ourselves in an ethical manner.  We cannot play favorites or prejudge outcomes.  Our role is to seek the truth so that justice is served. Our deputies have earned the respect of the legal community and judges because we uphold those values in every aspect of the work, whether in the office or the courtroom.

In my execution of the management of the office, I have demanded of staff to be fair and to treat all people equally with the dignity due to a free people.  For, in the end, we cannot have justice if we allow vengeance to pollute our judicial system. We depend on the certainty of the law to protect our rights, our security and our sense of fairness.  Without that, we will be subject to the whims of individuals who wield power beyond their rights as citizens in a free republic.

As your District Attorney, I have pledged to do everything in my power to ensure that the enforcement of our laws is guided by one principle: that we are all equal.  This is the essential value embodied in our Constitution. Our safety, both as individuals and as a vibrant society, depend upon upholding that value, despite the misguided public discourse that would encourage you to approach the world with fear.

I take pride in the office I have led these past eight years.  Of the staff I inherited from Terry Farmer, 4 continue today, 2 were fired, and the remaining left of their own accord.

One of the Deputies that I was obligated to terminate is running against me in this election.  While I am unable to state the reasons for her dismissal, I can say that the only reasons I would fire someone are if they are dishonest, unfair or incompetent.  If they are any of these they cannot serve the people of Humboldt County by working in the District Attorney’s Office.

The Deputy District Attorney’s job is demanding, stressful and not well compensated.  But our Deputies perform remarkably well by cooperating with each other, sharing tasks, and being aware of one another’s work so that they can help out as needed.  Their days begin before 8AM and do not end until well after 5PM.  Often they take their work home, preparing for the next day’s appearance in court.  We never forget that we serve the public.

The office continues to thrive even though the budget has been cut, there is less staff, and we have increased the amount of filings. Be assured that if we are presented with facts from a law enforcement agency that a crime has been committed and it can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, then it will be filed.  We never decline a case based on a lack of resources.

This kind of dedication to public service has been successful in bringing the worst violators to justice, whether they be perpetrators of violence, sexual molestation, or predators of the vulnerable among us, or corporate polluters of our environment. We have received awards for our investigative team, our Child Abuse Services, our Domestic Violence unit, including a recent unanimous Proclamation of Appreciation from the Board of Supervisors, and for our work with local tribes.  Our conviction rates and commitment of violent offenders to prison are as high as ever on a budget that is the lowest in a decade.

The future looks good as well. I am creating a special team to specifically tackle cold cases, based on the methods honed by our stellar investigative unit to crack cold cases, like the Huntzinger disappearance. And, as crime has changed along with the changes in our society and technology, our computer investigations unit, which is the only computer investigation unit on the entire North Coast, continues to enable my office and other law enforcement offices to be able to solve cases and bring perpetrators to justice. We continually work to expand these abilities and will continue to set the bar for investigation on the North Coast.

In addition, we are developing our ability to present evidence electronically in court. We showcased this in the Belant case and the Skilled Healthcare case, where we were able to show the judge and jury actual documents so they were able to easily read appropriate passages and come to a just conclusion.  We use state of the art technology to bring perpetrators to justice and will continue to develop our abilities in that arena.

All of our work is aimed at one goal: improving public safety and making Humboldt County a healthy place to live, raise our families and do business.  Please join me in that effort by re-electing me as your District Attorney.  Thank you.

Paul V. Gallegos is Humboldt County District Attorney.

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But I want to talk about something more than numbers. I want to tell you what this looks like on the ground.

Here’s an example. In July, a man named Michael Coen was arrested for attempted murder. This was not his first brush with the law. He’d been sent to prison for eight years for an assault that left a man in a coma. This was before Gallegos was elected.

Coen was paroled in 2007, but in March 2008 was picked up for participating in a gang. No charges were filed, and instead the new offense was treated as a parole violation.

In July 2008, he was arrested for his involvement in another beating that resulted in serious injury. Again, no new charges were filed by Gallegos, and again the offense was treated as a simple parole violation. Coen was out in five months.

December 2008 found Coen arrested yet again—this time for driving under the influence and running from the police. Gallegos charged the DUI but then pled it down to a less serious offense. Once again, it was treated as a parole violation.

Back out on the streets in May 2009, Coen was immediately rearrested for participating in a gang. Again, no charges. Another parole violation; another brief stint in jail.

Coen was released again in August 2009.  The following month, he assaulted two men, breaking the jaw of one man who happened to be a serviceman home on leave from Iraq.

Even though Coen was already on parole for felony assault, even though he had five prior parole violations, Gallegos plea bargained this new case and agreed to Coen’s release in November 2009.

Three months later, Coen was arrested again. The charges this time—robbery, carjacking, illegally possessing a weapon, and participating in a gang. The case was referred to the DA, but for some unexplained reason, it was never charged. At all. Even though the investigating officer reported Coen admitted his involvement. He remained out on the street until he was picked up a few months ago for allegedly attempting to kill a man.

This is one example. There are many more. This year alone there have been 29 felons on parole found to be in possession of firearms. The DA charged only six of those. One parolee, picked up three times for being in possession of a firearm before he was charged. That was when he was found with a loaded Glock in his waistband after being stopped by the CHP.

This is where we are. This is what eight years of Paul Gallegos have gotten us.

If elected, as your next District Attorney I will close the revolving door of plea deals that returns violent criminals to our streets to offend again and again.

I will evaluate cases personally to make sure they are properly charged. I will prioritize cases and see that deputy prosecutors have the resources and leadership they need to succeed.

I will repair the damage done to the Victim Witness Program, and re-establish special victims programs, such as those that previously supported victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child and elder abuse.

I will re-establish a true environmental crimes unit that addresses real issues and doesn’t waste our time or your money on vanity cases and political grandstanding.

I will be accessible. People trying to contact the DA’s Office will no longer get a telephone tree, a full voice-mailbox and no return call. That has gone on too long and is flatly unacceptable.

On the strength of my experience and reputation, I have earned the endorsement of law enforcement throughout Humboldt County: Sheriff’s Deputies, Arcata Police, Eureka Police, Fortuna Police and our Correctional Officers. I have the support of the current Sheriffs of Humboldt, Mendocino, and Del Norte counties. They know I’ll do the job to keep our community safe,  They know that when they arrest people and we can prove that they’re guilty, I won’t let them go.

Work with me to rebuild our District Attorney’s Office. Vote Allison Jackson for District Attorney. A New Day, A New DA. Thank you.

Allison Jackson, a former prosecutor, is a partner in the Harland Law Firm. For information about her campaign, visit AJforDA.com.

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First, I would like to thank all those good people who supported me in my campaign for district attorney. I greatly appreciate meeting you and your help. I thank each of you, you know who you are. I look forward to meeting you again, I love you all.

Paul Hagen

As to what I learned, here it is: I set out to run a clean, honest and intelligent campaign, based on people and our common future. I consistently stated my beliefs and values, and my priorities and vision for prosecuting crime. As publicly promised, I did not attack or smear, nor employ guile or anger.

My appeal was to vote based on character, capacity and reason, not fear or angst. Nor did I solicit or accept large amounts of money (except from my mother–check the records).

Everywhere from Redway to Trinidad, I personally knocked on almost 4,000 doors. In order to better learn, I always let the people decide what the conversation would be about, I never led it.

My simple pitch was always the same: I introduced myself, asked for comments or questions, and then listened. I also met groups in peoples’ homes. I answered honestly and directly every single question put to me. Many people taught me many things, and I was shown many kindnesses. While I came in third, I believe my campaign succeeded.

Through these thousands of face-to-face conversations, I learned about the peoples’ concerns in the district attorney’s race, and about democracy in Humboldt County.

As to the Humboldt DA’s race, I learned there are two main issues: 1. Plea Bargaining, and 2. Marijuana.

Regarding plea bargaining, many people are angry. They are frustrated and cannot understand why drug crimes and abuse crimes are sentenced so lightly. They believe the DA’s office runs a “revolving door” operation and they don’t like it. This I heard–over and over.

Regarding marijuana, virtually everyone agrees that Prop 215 is badly broken. Most agree the Humboldt DA’s unique 99-plant prosecution limit exacerbated things and led to very bad consequences – undeniably so to those whose neighborhoods suffered.

I was educated at peoples’ doors in just those neighborhoods; I learned they are everywhere. When I explained this November’s marijuana ballot initiative, people county-wide showed concern about the future. Many are in favor of legalization, although for different reasons. There is great uncertainty, with leadership sorely needed.

Having been a criminal prosecutor for over 11 years, I already knew that many people have a very underdeveloped understanding of how our criminal justice system actually works. It is complex and secretive, and while it operates “in open court,” understanding its insides is very difficult for citizens in general.

Sadly and not to my surprise, I learned that few people really know just how very poorly the current DA is still running criminal justice in Humboldt County–as ever he will.

As for this fall’s DA’s election, here is what I think: The questions facing those voting are not so simple as being “tough on crime,” nor taking unjustifiable credit for movements in crime statistics, etc. So what? This is a very complex and important job, and by definition anyone offering sophistries as rationale for your vote is not up to it. I submit that the more any candidate avoids an honest, straight-on answer, the more a voter should be distrustful. The core issue is always the ability to lead honestly, so demand it.

Alexis de Tocqueville said that “In a democracy, the people get the government they deserve.” I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “We live in a democracy–use it or lose it.”

If you believe as I do, that we actually create our own future, then the most important issue in any election is really the character of the candidates as leaders. After our decades of culture wars, I submit that character is far more important than political prosecutions. I urge everyone to look beyond canned rhetoric and shrewd tactics.

Instead, look very carefully into the intellect, beliefs and values of these two human beings as you decide your vote, as these traits are what will truly guide them once in office and determine our common future.

My deep thanks to you all.

Paul Hagen served as a criminal and civil prosecutor in four North Coast district attorney’s offices, including Humboldt’s. He is currently is an attorney in Eureka and believes deeply in participatory democracy.

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Eye Editor

ARCATA – Accused child molester Timothy Ryan Dossey pled guilty to a lesser charge of child endangerment and was released from jail May 5. Formal sentencing takes place June 14.

Dossey, 26, had been held in Humboldt County Jail on $50,000 bail since March 4, when he was arrested on suspicion of Child Molestation and Sending Harmful Matter to Seduce a Minor. Arcata High School school officials learned of the allegations and notified police. It was alleged that Dossey, an AHS Junior Varsity girls’ basketball coach, developed an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old female student.

Timothy Dossey

Dossey was arraigned March 9 on three felony charges: child molestation, communication with a minor with intent to commit a molestation and arranging to met a minor for the purpose of engaging in a lewd act.

But on May 5, the first count was reduced to child endangerment and the other two counts were dismissed.

The Penal Code 273a (a) charge that Dossey pled to is a “wobbler,” that is, a felony charge that may be reduced to a misdemeanor. It may be expunged from his record following probation.

Meanwhile, Dossey will not be allowed to hold a teaching position in California as long as the conviction remains on his record. He will not have to register as a sex offender.

Deputy District Attorney Kelly Neel was reluctant to offer detail on why the charges were reduced and dismissed prior to Dossey’s sentencing. However, she said, “Decisions were made in conjunction with, and with the support of the victim’s family.”

Neel maintained that the charges were “not necessarily reduced,” and that the guilty plea “will prevent him from ever obtaining a teaching credential.” If Dossey applies for a teaching job, she said, he will have to fill out a questionnaire which specifically asks whether  he had ever been convicted of a felony.

To legally return to the teaching field, she said, Dossey would need a pardon from the governor. She said that Dossey will be on felony supervised probation, and that he will be required to undergo counseling.

Arcata Police Chief Tom Chapman expressed qualified satisfaction with the disposition of the case, but with concerns.

“I’m glad the DA’s office was able to reach a mutually agreeable settlement,” Chapman said. “I’m disappointed that he won’t have to register as a sex offender. We have sex offender registration for a reason.”

Chapman expressed concern that given the circumstances of the settlement, Dossey could relocate to another area and continue the behavior.

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Eye Correspondent

HUMBOLDT – Former County Prosecutor Allison Jackson says she has a wide-ranging base of support that’s united in the belief that the District Attorney’s Office needs to change for the better.

“I would liken it to the Titanic with the bow up in the water and the band hanging from the railings – there’s no leadership and there’s really no administration of the office,” she said.

Jackson’s emergence as a candidate is no surprise, as it’s been rumored for months. But she said it was not an easy decision, as she’s enjoying a civil law career with the Harland Law Firm.

“The tote board was real heavy on the ‘don’t do this side,’” she said. “But on the ‘do this’ side was the knowledge of what needs to be done and the leadership to do it, and thinking that there’s about 129,000 people – every child, every woman, every man – that deserves something better.”

What they deserve is the assurance that those who commit crimes will beappropriately held accountable and that the rights of defendants will be preserved, she continued. Those aspects are being undercut by incumbent District Attorney Paul Gallegos’ “almost complete inability” to hire and maintain mid- to senior-level prosecutors, said Jackson.

She added that she’s not the only one who’s noticed that lack of case preparation is resulting in day-of-trial plea bargains that leave crime victims and their families feeling short-changed. Over-charging of defendants is also happening, Jackson continued, for the same reasons.

“These things are occurring so frequently, it’s almost mind-boggling,” she said.

Allison Jackson

Jackson’s bid to replace Gallegos is part of a power struggle that began shortly after the DA was first elected. He survived a 2004 recall attempt which saw then-Prosecutor Worth Dikeman as a candidate. Jackson supported Dikeman when he challenged Gallegos again in the 2006 election.

Gallegos’ supporters see Jackson as a conservative who would reverse the change the DA has fought for and delivered. She rejects that view.

“I’m interested in forward progress,” said Jackson. “Some things have to change because they’re simply not working and what’s needed is a return to what’s thought of in the profession as an acceptable and appropriate way of prosecuting certain crimes.”

Vertical prosecution – specialization in crime categories like child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault – only exists superficially now, she continued. “That really has to be fixed, I don’t believe in accepting mediocrity, you need to strive for excellence.”

Nor does Jackson view herself as a conservative candidate. “I’m a fourth generation Democrat,” she said. “Holding people accountable for their crimes, protecting defendants’ rights and honoring victims’ rights – that’s not a conservative/liberal thing, that’s the one thing that actually unites us all.”

Jackson described how she would lead, saying that the “sole, primary function of the DA is to be the administrator of the office” – which contrasts Gallegos’ stance that the community expects a DA to try cases personally.

“When you give up your administrative function just to go and play in a courtroom, you’re letting the community down and that’s what’s occurred here,” Jackson said. She added that if she’s elected, she’ll probably have to try some cases due to a shortage of senior deputies but her plan is to rebuild the office so that’s not necessary.

Marijuana prosecution, particularly of medical cases, is an important election issue. Jackson said she grew up in the Santa Cruz mountains, a haven of hippie culture, which “gives me a different perspective than other people might have.”

She said she will guard the legal right to use marijuana medically but she also wants to guard against exploitation of the community. “What we in Humboldt are owning, because of our tolerance, has been the greed of people who come here from out of the area,” Jackson continued. “They’ve come up here and they’ve exploited our tolerance and that’s resulted in some pretty horrific things in grow houses and in neighborhoods, and some pretty significant environmental damage.”

Asked what her guidelines for medical marijuana will be, Jackson declined to quantify growing area or plant numbers. She said the totality of evidence has to be considered to determine if the concept of medical cultivation is being capitalized on at the community’s expense.

“I’m really looking at going after and enforcing prohibitions against large scale, clearly commercial grows,” she continued. “And I can guarantee you, if you’ve got cancer or if you have MS or acute back pain, you’ve got nothing to worry about from me.”

And like the other candidates, Jackson is in favor of marijuana legalization in the state and she wants it on a federal level too. “If you know you’ve got this many people that are using it – and we do – you’ve just created a black market that has made a lot of people very wealthy at the same time has created huge burdens, at least for this community.”

Marijuana prosecution isn’t something Jackson is known for. In her 10 years as a county prosecutor, she specialized in cases involving crimes against children and women. But she believes her involvement in prosecuting a marijuana case led to her exit from the office.

Gallegos fired her in 2004, shortly after the recall election, a move that intensified an already bitter political clash between those who support the DA and those who believe he’s done harm to the office.

Jackson has said that her complaint against marijuana defense attorney Ed Denson—who is a Gallegos supporter — is the reason why the DA fired her. And when asked about the circumstances of her firing, she reiterated that it was because she reported that Denson knowingly submitted a client’s altered medical marijuana documentation as evidence.

“It was never investigated, it was buried and the underlying cases were dismissed and I was fired – and I wear that as badge of honor,” she continued.

Gallegos has said that Jackson’s firing was not because of the complaint or anything related to it and Denson has firmly denied the allegation. Jackson’s candidacy is likely to re-ignite politically-related speculation about why she was fired.

Replacing one’s boss is probably the best revenge for having been fired but Jackson said it has nothing to do with her decision to run. “My decision to run is solely based on the fact that we have people that are not being held fully accountable for what they’ve done to others, we have victims and victims’ families that have been hurt and are not getting their justice and as a community, we are being diminished because of that,” she said.

Jackson’s belief in those principles is long-held and she said she decided wanted to be a prosecutor when she was 21 years old. In that year of her life, her mother, her step-father and her family’s dog were killed in a car crash.

The driver of the other car was charged with DUI, but Jackson didn’t feel well-served by the system when the case was resolved.

“I really do empathize with victims and I understand, really to my core, why it’s important to build a case and to prove it,” she said.

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“I love Humboldt County and I want to use my proven ability and experience to protect Humboldt County’s future,” said Hagen.  “I have a vision for how the DA’s office can serve the people and I look forward to sharing this vision with the citizens of our diverse communities.”

Hagen has worked as a deputy district attorney in four DA’s offices and has worked under seven elected DAs.  He has put together environmental task forces and prosecuted crimes in Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, and Lake Counties.

“If I’m elected, I’ll set clear priorities for the DA’s office and provide support to staff to they have the direction and tools they need to deliver justice,” said Hagen.  “We can make our Humboldt County communities safer by vigorously prosecuting crimes of violence, crimes against vulnerable people, and crimes against the public

Why I Am Running

I am running for District Attorney because I believe that together we can protect Humboldt’s future.

How do I know that I will do well in protecting Humboldt’s future? Because my life experiences have given me the proven ability to lead and the proven ability to deliver results.

I have taught in schools and universities. I have put on high-level conferences for both the public and for government personnel. I have taught in numerous law enforcement settings at both the state and federal levels. I have trained agency personnel, investigators and prosecutors how to make cases. I have the proven ability to train, to inspire, and to lead people.

I have worked as both a criminal and a civil prosecutor for more than eleven years in four different district attorney’s offices, under seven different DA’s. In each county I formed and led a multi-agency, cross-jurisdictional task force to investigate and prosecute crimes. I have successfully prosecuted and tried cases criminal and civil, large and small, against individuals, corporations and public officials. I have the proven ability to deliver results in the courts.

And I have learned through all these rich experiences how an effective district attorney’s office should be administered. I know what a district attorney’s office can and properly should do. I have the proven ability to get that done. And if elected, this I will do.

These broad experiences make me uniquely qualified in this election.

Who I Am

I grew up in the American Midwest. My dad was the son of immigrants, he was born on a farm, he did not graduate from high school, but went on to become a skilled electrician to support his family. My mom was the daughter of immigrants, she first learned to speak English in grade school, and went on to become a Registered Nurse before she married.

I am a product of a loving family.

Growing up I worked as a paperboy, a music teacher, a leader in student government in college, an intern in the United States Congress, and as a garbage truck driver. After leaving the Midwest I worked on many types of jobsites as a construction worker. I have worked in many types of office settings from temporary clerk to analyst. I have worked for nonprofits, for government agencies, and in the largest law firm in the State of California.

Work aside, I have built and raced motorcycles and cars. I learned how to custom hand-bevel glass, because it creates beauty. I am an avid open water swimmer and a triathlete in training year-round. Andmost importantly of all, I am a member of the World Famous — Crab Grass Band.

I believe in service to community. I have served my communities by volunteering my time as an educator, as a member of boards of directors, as a member of the Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee, for the State Bar of California, and as a member of the Arcata Planning Commission.

I am 55 years old and I have lived in Northern California for over a quarter of a century, as a husband with my wife of more than twenty-five years, and then as the father of our two daughters around whom our lives revolve.

I am a spiritually rich man.

And I am a family man who believes that there is no better place in the world than Humboldt County to live and raise my family.

What I Believe

Beyond one’s life’s experiences, what one believes sets the stage for what one does. My beliefs and upbringing have set the stage for what I will do if elected.

I will share with you how my beliefs and upbringing came together in being a parent. Here are two of the most important things I have told my children hundreds of times:

First: Three rules for success in life, which I told to them each day for years as they left for school with their mother:

Pay attention, Try hard, Do well. Pay attention, Try hard, Do well.

Second: The biggest rule of all:

Life is about other people. Life is about other people.

I believe these rules are the basis for the advancement of both the individual and of society as a whole. Because in this life we are all tied together. And because in this life we must protect each other and we must protect our common future.

And finally, I believe that each person has the obligation in life to give the best of what they have to the community. Because Life Is About Other People.

What I Will Do As Your District Attorney

I also believe deeply in the values of fairness and justice, community and safety. As your district attorney, I will instill these values in everything the office does.

I have trained myself for years to listen carefully to people, to be attentive and accountable at all times, and to exercise professionalism and sound judgment at every turn. As your district attorney I will emphasize a common sense approach to prosecuting crimes. I hold myself to very high standards and I will accept no less from my staff.

Based on these values, the DA’s office under my leadership will vigorously prosecute crimes involving violence, methamphetamine, abuse of children and elders, sexual and domestic abuse, and crimes against the environment, consumers and workers.

As your district attorney, I will give the very best of my life’s energies to serving the People.

The end result is that I will deliver fair application of our laws, and I will deliver effective, even-handed justice.

Close

We all cherish the diversity, the independence, and the richness of life that makes Humboldt County unique. We all want to protect this place, its way of life, and its future.

We live here because we believe in this place and we believe in each other. That is how I see it.

I pledge to you that if elected to serve as your district attorney, I will give the very best of what I have and what I am.

And so I ask you to please join my campaign and join me in protecting the future of Humboldt County..

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EUREKA – With more than 100 people who turned out in support, attorney Allison Jackson formally kicked off her campaign in Eureka Saturday afternoon to be the next Humboldt County District Attorney.

Campaign chairman Ron Pierre said the district attorney position is the most important in the county and called for strong leadership in that post.

Pierre noted that the crowd who came to support Jackson was a diverse mixture of residents from across the political spectrum.

Fifth District Supervisor Jill Duffy, who also attended the campaign event, said that Jackson alone possesses the experience and tenacity for the job.

Jackson is a partner at the Eureka-based Harland Law Firm where she has worked since 2004 representing clients in civil litigation, land-use, employment, and other areas of law. Jackson has also worked in the Humboldt, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara county district attorney offices.

Jackson said that as district attorney, she will show leadership and get results–not just give lip service.

“When I am elected you will finally have a district attorney who actually runs the office and who actively works to make sure that the laws are enforced,” Jackson said. “People will be charged and their cases will proceed based upon the evidence of what they have done and not who they are.”

Jackson said she will treat victims and witnesses of crimes with simple human dignity, adding that her core values and principles of law and order were instilled in her by the three generations of formidable women who raised her.

Former Humboldt County Administrative Officer Loretta Nickolaus called Jackson a veteran prosecutor who knows what it takes to administer the district attorney’s office.

Nickolaus said Jackson knows the Penal Code, can give clear jury instructions and gets sentences that fit the crime. She also gave a stern warning to those who might break the law.

“Allison won’t fool around here,” Nickolaus said.

Nickolaus said Jackson is a fierce and effective prosecutor who will represent everyone. She said Jackson brings a wealth of experience and will be there for the victims of crime and their families.

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