VOTERS SAY GALLEGOS

EUREKA -- An exhausted but happy Paul Gallegos on Wednesday thanked his
supporters for helping him win in the race for Humboldt County District
Attorney.

Gallegos, a private attorney, won with 52 percent of the vote Tuesday,
defeating 20-year incumbent Terry Farmer.

Many didn't give Gallegos much of a chance against Farmer, who had the
endorsements of most of the law enforcement community and state Attorney
General Bill Lockyer.

"I knew it was going to be difficult," Gallegos said, referring to his
campaign. "But the bottom line was, if I had one ounce of strength left over
- -- then I would not have worked hard enough."

Gallegos said he doesn't know yet precisely the message voters have sent
him.

"I'm sure it varies with each individual voter," he said. "I'll have to
figure out the message."

Gallegos campaigned on a platform of bringing a fresh face to the district
attorney's office. Noting that Farmer rarely tries cases personally,
Gallegos said he believed the incumbent had fallen out of touch with today's
courtroom, and that the district attorney needs to be more involved.

The 39-year-old Gallegos said he wants to cut down on what he called
small-time cases that clog up the courts, prosecute methamphetamine cases
more aggressively, and develop a more progressive approach to dealing with
medical marijuana cases.

Critics, including Farmer, said Gallegos' platform may have sounded
appealing, but it lacked specifics when examined up close. Farmer, for
example, said that when a lawyer is trying cases, that's all he or she has
time to do, while the district attorney must manage a large staff, a $2
million budget and be communicating constantly with area law enforcement.

The day after the election, there seemed to be several varying explanations
for Gallegos' victory. Political experts said they believed Gallegos simply
ran a more effective campaign.

"Campaigns do matter in nonpartisan and primary elections," said JeDon
Emenhiser, political science professor at Humboldt State University. While
Farmer actually raised and spent more than Gallegos, Emenhiser said Gallegos
may have found an edge by running a more visible, vigorous campaign in the
crucial last few weeks.

Residents had different views. Marshall Spalding, who works at the
Courthouse Market, sees and talks to many lawyers who come into the store.
Spalding said he personally had nothing against Farmer, but decided it was
time for a change.

Spalding, a San Diego native and transplant to Humboldt County, said the
county's demographics have changed since Farmer took office in 1982. He said
a greater number of residents, like himself, are urban transplants with a
less home-grown viewpoint, and thus have less loyalty to long-standing
incumbents like Farmer.

"And we're used to having something new," Spalding said.

Jamie Flower, a deputy public defender, said Farmer may have alienated just
enough "sub-constituencies" over the years so that there were enough people
willing to respond to Gallegos' call for a change. He said in particular
people responded to Gallegos' pledge to reexamine how the county prosecutes
medical marijuana cases.

"A lot of people, including myself, don't believe Terry (Farmer) was doing
his best to put the will of the people into effect," Flower said. "Gallegos
has said he'll do that and now we'll put him to the test."

Flower disagreed with critics who have suggested Gallegos' inexperience as a
prosecutor will stand in his way. He noted that district attorney
prosecutors often cross the fence into defense work when they go into
private practice.

"And attorneys have the same duty to uphold the law, the same code of
ethics, no matter what kind of attorney he or she is," Flower said.

Gallegos' challenge, then, may be convincing the current staff that he is
capable of making the transition, Flower said.

Several deputy district attorneys on Wednesday said they were disgusted and
angered by the election outcome, one wondering aloud why voters would get
rid of Farmer who has been doing a good job for nearly 20 years.

Other district attorney employees said they were worried about the effect
the election could have on the long-term relationship between the District
Attorney's Office and Sheriff's Office, which work side by side in law
enforcement.

Sheriff-elect Gary Philp, a 29-year veteran of the Sheriff's Department,
will be taking over an office next year in which all the employees already
know him. He said Gallegos will have a unique set of challenges coming in
from the outside.

Philp added he's hopeful that the two will enjoy a good working
relationship.

"Any insight or counsel he might need, I'd be glad to share with him," Philp
said.

Gallegos said he's looking forward to working with Philp.

Farmer said he hasn't talked with Gallegos, but he's interested in making
sure his staff of 15 prosecutors can continue to "do good work."

"Hopefully he'll recognize their value," Farmer said.

Farmer said he hasn't settled on any future plans.

"Times of transition can be exciting," Farmer said. "I was contemplating one
future, now I'm contemplating many -- and there's excitement in that."

Gallegos on Wednesday said he realized he's stepping into a tough job. One
advantage of having the primary in March is that he now has nine months to
prepare. Gallegos said he plans to start getting ready today, mostly
continuing what he did during his campaign -- reaching out to the community.

Plus he said he will attend a training workshop with the California District
Attorney's Association. He said he's also hoping for guidance from Farmer,
whom he called an "elder statesman."

"I respect him and the work he's done," Gallegos said. "But without a doubt
I'm going to be doing things differently."