Sheriff Scandal Plagues Assembly Candidate

As three local Democrats toil away in the hopes of succeeding termed out Assemblyman Gene Mullin in the 19th Assembly District, the scandal surrounding San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks is beginning to play a pivotal role in the race.

In yet another article in the Daily News regarding the Sheriff and his connection to San Mateo County Supervisor and Assembly aspirant Jerry Hill, Republican candidate Catherine Brinkman blasted Hill for his “too late and too little” response to the Sheriff’s scandal.

San Mateo County residents may recall the revelations last April that San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks, and his Undersheriff Carlos Bolanos, were caught up in a brothel bust when the two top cops in San Mateo County were in Las Vegas for a relay race for law enforcement.

Both lawmen were “detained” and released along with numerous other patrons of the Las Vegas neighborhood brothel but many women were taken into custody as well as cash and approximately 3,500 tabs of the drug Ecstasy.

San Mateo County officialdom was largely silent on the event. In fact, some even defended Munks in lieu of condemning the visit of the two top cops to a house of ill repute. San Mateo County Supervisor and State Assembly aspirant Jerry Hill was particularly vociferous in his defense of Munks.

As pressure has mounted however, particularly from Congresswomen Jackie Speier and Anna Eshoo – both of whom publicly called for an investigation in April of this year – Hill and company backtracked and promised to develop proposals to allow the board to address the issue. Hill, according to an Examiner Newspaper article, proposed a possible county charter amendment to allow the Supervisors to discipline Munks. But two weeks later at the board’s regularly scheduled meeting on May 6, no such proposal was forthcoming. In fact, there was no discussion of the Munks issue at all.

In a Daily News article following the meeting, Hill did indicate that he is still working on the issue.

But the lack of action apparently did not sit well with another Assembly candidate. Republican Assembly candidate Catherine Brinkman issued a blistering statement in response to Hill’s lack of action, criticizing Hill for trying to again “…sweep the malfeasance of the Sheriff and Hill’s own support of the Sheriff back under the rug,” according to a full copy of the statement available on the Pacifica Riptide Web site.

In a Daily News article, Hill’s campaign manager, Ed McGovern shot back calling Brinkman “stupid” and stating that she has only brought up the issue again for political reasons.

Whatever the cause, the Daily News article took Hill to task for his ever shifting positions on the Munks scandal. In an editorial published last month by the San Mateo County Times, the newspaper predicted that the Munks scandal and Hill’s subsequent fumble would have an impact on the Assembly race in favor of Hill’s competitors Richard Holober, a San Mateo County Community College Trustee and Gina Papan, the Mayor of Millbrae.

It appears that the Times prediction is coming true as Hill struggles to find a way out of the political quagmire he has made for himself.

Times Reporter Solicits Public Reaction to Sheriff’s Scandal

In an unusual request to members of the public, San Mateo County Times reporter Michael Manekin posted the following letter on the San Mateo Daily News site requesting responses from members of the public regarding the ongoing turmoil over San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Hello, My name is Michael Manekin.

I'm a reporter at the San Mateo Times, and I'm working on a story about the public's reaction to the Vegas scandal.

I want to know if county residents care about the incident--and if they do, what they think should be done. Recall the sheriff? An independent investigation? An ethics commission? A change to the county charter? Nothing at all?

If you're a resident of San Mateo County and have an opinion on this matter, I'd like to arrange an interview.

Please e-mail me at mmanekin@bayareanewsgroup.com.

Thank you,

Michael

It has been a year since Munks and Undersheriff Carlos Bolanos were detained by law enforcement officials in a sweep of brothels in Las Vegas, Nevada under a two year investigation named “Operation Dollhouse”.

Both lawmen were in Las Vegas for a relay race for law enforcement agencies throughout the Western United States. At the time, Munks and company were the subject of a fierce media storm and weathered editorial calls for their resignations issued by, among many, the Daily Journal and the Half Moon Bay Review. But weather the storm they did, with the help of compliant political allies on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors who did nothing in response. And that has been the modis operandi for a year.

That had been the case until Friday, April 18, 2008 when the San Mateo Daily News published a stunning expose and reexamination of the Sheriff’s visit to a house of ill-repute and subsequent silence on the issue on the part of the county’s leadership. Of greatest significance in the expose is the new call for an investigation of Munks and Bolanos by the county’s two top political leaders, Congresswomen Jackie Speier and Anna Eshoo.

Since then there have been numerous articles, op-eds, letters to the editor and even accusations between candidates now running to replace Assemblyman Gene Mullin in the June Democratic Primary.

San Mateo County Supervisor Jerry Hill has been at the center of the media firestorm as he is now one of the candidates running for Assembly and had taken thousands of dollars in donations from Munks and members of Munks’ family who also hosted a fundraiser for Hill in November of 2007, just months after the brothel bust.

In response Hill has returned some of the funds he collected from Munks and, in concert with Supervisor Adrienne Tissier, is poised to suggest options for the county to respond to the Munks event, and perhaps future events by independently elected county officials.

Hill and company’s response, a full year after the brothel bust, is likely in a reaction to the intense media scrutiny and the looming election.

In preparation for that event, Times reporter Manekin is soliciting perspectives from county residents and voters to gauge voter interest in seeing that county officials take action to discipline Munks and, perhaps more importantly, publicly react to questionable behavior on the part of elected officials rather than simply turning a blind eye – or have them host a fundraiser.

Pro-Development Citizens Group Touts Cargill in Redwood City

A new Redwood City-based group has emerged calling for the development of the Cargill Industrial Saltworks site now the subject of a signature gathering effort to halt such a development by local and regional environmental organizations.

In a recent op-ed in the Daily News, Redwood City resident and public relations hack Lou Covey announced the formation of Sustainable Redwood City, a new organization dedicated to “…promoting the long-term viability of our community, economy, environment and overall quality of life benefiting all residents,” according to its posted mission statement.

Covey’s group has formed apparently as a foil to the Friends of Redwood City organization that has long fought against developments the organization identifies as environmentally flawed. In February, the Friends of Redwood City in concert with Save the Bay and the Committee for Green Foothills announced a signature gathering effort to place a measure on the Redwood City ballot to preserve existing open spaces and parks by requiring that any development of such pristine sites, under the new ordinance established by the ballot measure, would require a vote of the people.

The ballot effort, flying under the banner of Open Space Redwood City, is thought to have been formed in direct response to the proposed development of 1,433 acre site of Bay-side land now owned by the salt manufacturing conglomerate Cargill. The Bay-side property and associated salt ponds are targeted for a massive development that will change the face of Redwood City and the Redwood Shores area and forever pave over rare Bay lands that many believe should be returned to the San Francisco Bay itself.

The ballot effort has touched off what will likely be an intense battle between the elected leadership of Redwood City working with Cargill and its development firm DMB Associates of Arizona against many environmental organizations including Friends of Redwood City; Save the Bay; the Committee for Green Foothills; Sequoia Audubon Society; Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge; Clean Water Action; the Sierra Club; and Acterra: Action for a Sustainable Earth.

Covey, like others throughout San Mateo County, supports so-called smart-growth developments, although the proposed bayside development of the Cargill site is considered by environmentalists to be a poor example of ex-urban development as it is far from public transit would strain existing infrastructure and would fill-in what could be new tidal wet lands, a rare commodity around the Bay. Such tidelands act as a mechanism for cleaning Bay water and serve as host for a variety of wildlife. That is why environmentalists are pushing hard for their restoration rather than a massive commercial and residential development.

Sustainable Redwood City joins other pro-development organizations that have sprung up in San Mateo County such as the Peninsula Coalition, which is supported primarily by developers and utility companies, and San Mateo Together, an organization formed to push for the redevelopment of the Bay Meadows Racetrack.

The Cargill development has also played into the State Assembly race in the 19th District as environmentalists have attacked San Mateo County Supervisor Jerry Hill - one of the three candidates vying to replace Gene Mullin - for being the pro-development candidate, according to an op-ed in the Daily News.

Yee Dithers with Violent Video Games…Again

State Senator Leland Yee issued a press release yesterday warning parents to avoid purchasing the newest installment of the ultra-violent video game Grand Theft Auto produced by Rockstar Games.

Yee is the author of a 2005 law that would prohibit the sale of extremely violent video games to minors in California. The law was struck down in federal court and is currently being litigated in the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. A bill authored by Yee in 2004, which has gone into effect, requires video game retailers to post signs informing consumers of the video game rating system.

The controversy over the so-called ultra-violent video games has been a flash point for both the ultra liberal and the ultra conservative, both of which attack the games for a variety of reasons. The overall underpinning is that such video games will so poison the minds of our youth that the next generation will be entirely mass murderers.

Yee, a child psychologist, has authored some useful legislation but his record is tainted by this ill-conceived and hyperbolic saber rattling over video game content in the same way that past political leaders have blamed television, comic books, movies, popular music and every other new medium.

In response, the gamer bologosphere has exploded with indignation over Yee’s comments in an absolutely expected response. By creating media interest and controversy over this next gratuitously violent video game Yee has likely succeeded in getting some free advertising for Rockstar Games. Perhaps is Yee has stock in Rockstar his posturing may actually pay off.

Hill Attacks Papan over Sheriff Debacle

In a blast e-mail to supporters, San Mateo County Supervisor and Assembly candidate Jerry Hill has attacked opponent Millbrae Mayor Gina Papan over an exchange between the two candidates during a candidate forum last Saturday hosted by the Pacifica Democratic Club.

Hill’s e-mail states:

This past Saturday while attending a Democratic candidate debate I was attacked by Gina Papan regarding San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks embarrassing actions while on a trip to Las Vegas last year. She tried to connect my responsibilities as Supervisor with Sheriff Munks poor judgment.

If you need further detail about the incident and how I handled it last year please visit my web site, www.votejerryhill.com/blog and under Blog you can see my response. You can also read today’s story in the San Mateo Daily News, http://www.sanmateodailynews.com/article/2008-4-22-munks-hill-cash

Additionally, to avoid any hint of impropriety, I have returned Sheriff Munks financial contribution to my campaign.

Hill’s rapid and nearly complete u-turn from a staunch defense of the Sheriff to a position of condemnation is an attempt at political damage control.

Hill has been badly damaged in the local press in a series of articles published in the Daily News and the San Mateo County times criticizing the board of supervisors for inaction in response to the Sheriff’s brothel visit last year in Las Vegas.

Hill in particular has been called out among the supervisors as he has taken thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Munks and Munks’ family for Hill’s Assembly bid.

In response, according to an article in the Daily News, Hill has given back a portion of the money he received from Munks and has asked the county counsel’s office to examine the possibility of amending the county charter in order to provide the board of supervisors with the authority to discipline independently elected county office holders in the future.

The Daily News scolded Hill and company for their lack of action stating that ”…because our county officials have betrayed the public's trust by stonewalling and hiding behind bureaucratic caveats, whatever investigation is conducted must be independent…”

Hill has yet to suggest any such independent investigation but, judging by a recent column in the San Mateo County Times, he is aware that his financial relationship and past support of Sheriff Munks may damage his candidacy in his current Assembly race and he is now hedging his bets.

Hill’s attack of Gina Papan is yet another attempt to divert attention away from his bungling of this scandal.

Speier and Eshoo Fire Shot Heard Round the County

Hill in the Line of Fire of Congressmembers

San Mateo County’s two members of Congress stunned political insiders last Friday by publicly calling for a full investigation of the incident last year in which San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks and Undersheriff Carlos Bolanos were detained in a Las Vegas brothel in a law enforcement sting.

Newly minted Congresswoman Jackie Speier, quoted in the Daily News expose, stated: "This cries out for a comprehensive external investigation, because the highest law enforcement officer in the county should not be under any suspicion of illegal activity at any time, ever.”

It has been a year since San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks and Undersheriff Carlos Bolanos were detained by law enforcement officials in a sweep of brothels in Las Vegas, Nevada under a two year investigation named “Operation Dollhouse”.

Both lawmen were in Las Vegas for a relay race for law enforcement agencies throughout the Western United States. At the time, Munks and company were the subject of a fierce media storm and weathered editorial calls for their resignations issued by, among many, the Daily Journal and the Half Moon Bay Review. But weather the storm they did, with the help of compliant political allies on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors who did nothing in response. And that has been the modis operandi for a year. That is, until now.

On Friday, April 18, 2008, the San Mateo Daily News published a stunning expose and reexamination of the Sheriff’s visit to a house of ill-repute and subsequent silence on the issue. Of greatest significance in the expose is the new call for an investigation of Munks and Bolanos by the county’s two top political leaders, Congresswomen Jackie Speier and Anna Eshoo.

Speier’s electrifying comments have sparked a wave of renewed interest in the Munks case while simultaneously shining a bright light on the closed circle of political relationships that comprise the county’s leadership.

Members of the board of supervisors washed their hands of the incident by saying they hold no sway over the sheriff, an elected official. County prosecutors said it's not their business what the sheriff and Undersheriff did because Las Vegas is outside their jurisdiction. And County Manager John Maltbie restricted his investigation to whether county funds were spent on the trip -and they were.

Supervisor Jerry Hill has been a vociferous defender of Munks, stating in the Examiner Newspaper at the time that Munks “…has the highest integrity and I have the highest confidence in Sheriff Munks, and the Undersheriff as well,” said Hill, who considers Munks a social friend.

In the most recent article, in the face of Speier and Eshoo’s demand for an investigation Hill responded by stating: "Certainly, we can't control what someone does after hours — nor should we — and if it's not using county resources, that is fine.''

But the pressure for the county leaders to respond is mounting. The following day, Board President Adrienne Tissier announced in the Daily News that she would be speaking with both members of Congress and would be open to revisiting the brothel bust. Tissier stated: "Obviously, Congresswoman Eshoo and Congresswoman Speier believe there are still unanswered questions from a year ago, and there are. I will spend the weekend speaking with both of them to get a better understanding of their thoughts.”

For Hill, this event could not have at a worse time. Hill is now engaged in a pitched battle to replace Assemblyman Gene Mullin who is being termed out of office.

Hill’s defense of Munks has been linked in the local press to the tremendous financial support he has received from Munks and Munks’ family – the Sheriff's father-in-law Bill Lane owns Sunset Magazine and is a big political donor. Hill has received over $11,000 in direct donations from Munks’ family for his Assembly race and Munks held a political fundraiser for Hill on November 11, 2007 at his Portola Valley home just months after the brothel bust scandal.

According to the San Mateo County Times, the Vegas bust and the subsequent cover up championed by Hill may just cost him the election and benefit either Millbrae Mayor Gina Papan or Community College Trustee Richard Holober.