Lake County voters who live in county supervisorial District 1 have received a paid slate mailer this past week of Oct. 23 that contains misleading information.

The title of the mailer is “Voter Information Guide for Democrats, November 4 General Election.”

The mailer features the Democratic candidate for president, Sen. Barack Obama, Democratic Congressman Mike Thompson and Democratic State Sen. Wes Chesbro, candidate for State Assembly District 1, along with Jim Comstock, Lake County District 1 supervisor candidate.

I am kind of surprised that within six months time, voters here in Lake County are being subjected to the same unethical campaign tactics that occurred in June.

Our memories are not that short. In fact most of the text of this letter was written in June, in order to set the record straight during the primary.

I guess we need to keep a template on file, and trot it out, just changing names and dates every election cycle.

During the June primary season, voters who live in Lake County Supervisor District 5 were also targeted with two similar mailers, from the same Southern California slate mailer company.

District 5 supervisor Rob Brown paid to have his name placed on these June mailers in order to lead District 5 voters to the conclusion that he was supported by elected Democrats who represent Lake County in Sacramento and in Washington D.C.

If voters take the time to read the fine print on this most current mailer, they will learn that this is a paid slate mailer, meaning candidates and campaigns make payments to this company to add their names to the slate mailer. The mailer reads, "Appearance in this mailer does not necessarily imply endorsement by others appearing in this mailer, nor does it imply endorsement of or opposition to any issues set forth in this mailer." It also says the mailer was "not paid for or authorized by candidates not designated by an asterisk *." If voters continue to read the mailer, they will find that none of the Democratic candidates, who are endorsed by the Democratic Party, paid to be on this mailer. However, an asterisk * does appear by District 1 Candidate Jim Comstock's name.

He is implying wrongly, to an undiscerning eye, that he is endorsed by the Democratic Party and has the personal endorsements of the Democratic candidates and supports the positions of the ballot campaigns listed on the mailer.

At the most recent District 1 supervisor debate, held in Lower Lake on Oct. 22, it was reported that candidate Comstock publicly declared his support of the Republican presidential ticket. Voter registration records show that he is a registered Republican.

A political advertisement, paid for by the local Lake County GOP has appeared and continues to appear, in the Lake County Record-Bee and on the LakeCoNews.

Both advertisements include Mr. Comstock's name as the endorsed District 1 supervisorial candidate of the local Republican party.

If the Comstock campaign strategy is similar to Mr. Brown's, a second mailer will appear in District 1 post office boxes, this week, with pictures of FDR and JFK and Harry Truman and Jim Comstock.

The Democratic party holds a 13-point majority in Lake County as a whole, and also has the majority of voters in every county and city jurisdiction as well as in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Riding on the coattails of what any moderately sentient individual knows will be a huge Democratic wave at the polls next week, by claiming affiliation with Democratic party candidates, proves only one thing: Mr. Comstock will say or do anything to win. Including misrepresenting himself to voters and abandoning his core values.

It's not hard to change your party affiliation, if that is or was really the intention of either of these candidates.

A quick trip to any library, post office or even up to the courthouse to pick up and fill out a voter registration form is all that is necessary.

This same company put out a similar mailer in November of 2006 that featured our Democratic senator from California, Dianne Feinstein, and ballot recommendations opposing propositions 86 and 87, the oil excise tax and cigarette tax initiatives.

Sen. Feinstein firmly supported those initiatives and decried this misleading mailer and the sleazy tactics employed therein via a press release from her office. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20061104/ai_n16829506

The company that put out this mailer is called Voter Information Guide. It is owned by Larry E. Levine. It also has a private consulting business called: Larry Levine and Associates, located at 13701 Riverside Dr., Ste. 604, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423, 818-906-8747. The company is listed on the American Association of Political Consultants membership roster.

Campaign expenditures and donations are public information. A political party or a candidate's campaign expenditures and donations are public record available to any citizen who requests them from the County Registrar of Voters.

I hope that this is the last time a representative of the Lake County Democratic party has to write a letter such as this, setting the record straight.

An informed electorate is critical in order to ensure that our democracy thrives. Vote on Nov. 4 and let your voice be heard.

Becky Curry is chair of the Lake County Democratic Central Committee. She lives in Kelseyville.

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