BY DAVE PRICE
Daily Post Editor
A reader brought to my attention an email newsletter from San Mateo County Supervisor Noelia Corzo, sent out on a county government account, in which she appears to be campaigning against Prop. 36, the measure that would reclassify many misdemeanors as felonies. Prop. 36 is a reaction to the onslaught of retail robberies that have plagued California.
Her newsletter said in part, “If passed, Prop. 36 would revert us back to the days of mass incarceration while eliminating funding for crucial programs proven to reduce crime and recidivism. As a former social worker who has seen the ugly reality of addiction, I do believe in supporting crime prevention and drug treatment programs. However, Prop. 36 will not address the problems it is trying to solve.”
She should remain neutral if she’s using county government resources.
I asked Corzo about it and she said “the intent was to provide information on what happened at the 8/27 (Board of Supervisors) meeting and the comments I made publicly at that meeting.”
It seems a lot like a campaign ad to me. It gives no sense of neutrality or even-handedness.
Elsewhere in the newsletter, she gives this plug to labor unions: “Supporting our partners in organized labor is more important than ever. Unions built the American middle class and they continue to bring economic justice to the workplace and social justice to our nation.”
I think there are some who might argue with that — such as workers who are trying to dump their unions. Or workers who don’t like being forced to pay union dues.
She should be careful. Three years ago Jose Nunez, a vice chancellor in the San Mateo County Community College District, was indicted for using college district resources to campaign for a member of the district’s board and to support a statewide proposition. He copped a plea to the charges but won’t be sentenced until he testifies against former college chancellor Ron Galatolo, who is facing charges including bribery.
If she wants to put out political messages, she should use her campaign account like other politicians. But sending these campaign ads on a county government email server crosses the line.
Editor Dave Price’s column appears on Mondays.
Be the first to comment