Alger Opponents Must Think We're Stupid
We don't know if the source is Santa Clarita, District 12, District 38 or even perhaps somewhere else nearby in the San Fernando Valley, but as is common in many political campaigns, a negative, nasty and untrue hit piece on 38th Assembly Candidate Jim Alger was mailed to voters in the District this weekend. (And apparently for some reason, also received by voters in the 39th and 40th ADs as well.)The rather unimaginative piece contains nothing more than the usual huff-n-puff we've seen cut and pasted here on our comments section. Indeed, some of the material is very similar to items that were "shopped" to the blog in the past by well-known San Fernando Valley Democratic activists, but material we were unable to confirm, and in some cases found contradictory evidence.
Its not our intention here to re-hash the charges and claims against Mr. Alger by his opponents and supporters of candidate Ethelyn "Lyn" Shaw-Hilfenhaus. Everyone's been down that road before.
What we have here however is the type of activity that continues to turn good people off of politics, depressing voter turn-out dramatically, henceforth making it far easier for special interest groups and those whom benefit from the government's largesse to determine who is in charge. Of course, this is not restricted to any one party, though at any given time one side will have more resources than the other.
This type of mailer, if connected in any way to the Hilfenhaus-Shaw campaign is illegal. California election history is replete with incidents of politicians who have run afoul of the state Fair Political Practices Commission for failing to identify themselves on mailers they have sent out. If Shaw-Hilfenhaus can completely prove no connection, it is at best, immoral.
The Sister City is currently investigating the source of the mailer. We don't anticiapate solving that riddle before Tuesday's primary, however we won't likely be surprised once we do find the source.
We also believe that this mailing, even if not directly connnected to Ethelyn "Lyn" Shaw-Hilfenhaus, is illegal under the California law. Indepenent expenditure committees who spend over $1000 in support or opposition of a candidate are required by the FPPC to disclose their identities. This slick, full color, professionally printed mailer that was mailed to several thousand voters in three Assembly districts, easily cost upwards of several hundred dollars to design and produce.
To top it off, and in another effort to hide the identities of the senders, the piece was sent out first class mail. Normally, campaigns can send items via bulk mail permits, saving several cents per piece. However - that requires disclosure on a bulk mailing permit and a little bit of work on the senders' part. If you have several thousand dollars at your disposal, why bother (especially when you wish to remain anonymous)?
So to recap:
- You have what is quite likely an illegal campaign piece sent out at the very last minute of the campaign.
- The material included is not much different from past charges cut and pasted to and from this blog.
- The material is not much different from that which has been "shopped" to the writers of this blog by well known, local Democratic activists.
- You have a piece where the creators spared no expense to get it out.
- Every step was taken to mask those behind the distribution of this piece.
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 6/05/2006 12:15:00 AM
66 Comments:
That would be stupid if Shaw is involved in it. They must be running scared. That's a lot of money to be spending on someone who they say has no chance.
Shaw-Hilfenhaus is the only person who would do this. They seem to be running for the hills. I was approached at a DPSFV meeting with someone "shopping" trash about Jim.
You don't attack someone you think is going to lose. Those idiots just showed their true colors.
Of course, this kind of bullshit is straight out of the Hilfenhaus playbook. Very sad day for all us Democrats.
I am not in the 38th but I hope that Jim cleans the basement floor with these bottom-feeders.
Ummm... Sammy there are only two real candidates in the race... Shaw-Hilfenhaus and Alger. My 2 year old daughter could connect these dots blindfolded, underwater in a sharktank.
The Hilfenhauses obviously don't feel to confident in the charges or they would have put their name on it.
From City News Service:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ALGER RESPONDS TO ILLEGAL ATTACKS
Says Shaw-Hilfenhaus move "desperate, predictable, false and sad"
Jim Alger (D-Northridge) responded today to a hit mailer that arrived over the weekend in a last minute attempt to sway voters opinions:
"This illegal 11th hour mailer with no return address, no FPPC Filing and no identification save for a made up name only benefits one individual and that is Lyn Shaw-Hilfenhaus. This type of thuggery is desperate, and predictable. It is what candidates do when they are behind and don't have any issues to run on. One local paper said it best this morning when they made the statement that 'candidates who stand for nothing try to set themselves apart from their rivals.' That is the only reason to attack an opponent, to distract the voters from the fact that they stand for nothing.
This false mail piece is merely the latest in a series of attempts by my opponent to defraud the voters of the 38th District. Whether it was blatantly false and disgusting attacks on my family, asking the voters of the district to vote for a woman who died 6 weeks ago, running for office under the name of her ex-husband, or sending a last minute mailer filled with false allegations under an assumed name, my opponent has shown a pattern of deceit that makes her unfit to hold public office.
What I find particularly disgusting is the attack on my family. I am running for office, they are not. I take care of my parents who moved in with my wife, my son and I several years ago. My father suffers from Parkinson's and early stages of Alzheimer's. They could not afford to live on their own and receive medical care. For someone who receives her paycheck helping the disabled to attack me for attending to my elderly parents is despicable. That doesn't even begin to address the rest of the blatantly false charges.
I call on Lyn Shaw-Hilfenhaus to immediately rebuke these negative campaign tactics and live up to her promise to run a clean campaign.
My opponent through her attacks makes the assumption that holding elected office is about character. I can tell you today that running for office, and holding that office is entirely about character. Character begins long before a campaign.
It is what drove me to volunteer to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina by personally going to the effected area and assisting in the rescue and recovery efforts. It is what won me the title as Senator to the LANC Congress. It is what made me a Mayoraly appointed Commissioner. It is what won me the Presidency of my Neighborhood Council. It is what caused me to stand beside my wife as she held accountable the man who attacked her regardless of his attacks on me. And it is why the California Jaycees bestowed upon me the honor "Outstanding Young Californian of 2006."
If I have something to say, I say it. I don't create an elaborate smokescreen to attempt to shield myself from the backlash of my words. That, my friends is character. It is a sad day for the Democratic Party and the voters of the 38th District when someone who claims to be such a loyal Democrat sees fit to launch a blind, false attack on a political opponent.
If Lyn Shaw Hilfenhaus wants to enter into a character debate fine. Tell me the time and place and I'll show up. Until then let's discuss the issues of the 38th District. I have invited Lyn to join the conversation for nearly a year and here we are days before the election and she has yet to discuss a single district-specific issue. We have serious problems and we need serious people to solve them and I can assure you that Lyn Shaw-Hilfenhaus is not interested in solving them.
She is interested in one thing, expanding her perceived power in the Democratic Party, not representing the voters of the district. Lyn Shaw Hilfenhaus and her ilk is what is wrong with politics, and this campaign is the solution.
This is a campaign for the California State Assembly and the people of this district deserve more than anonymous mailers."
###
Don't rush to the Hilfen-HOUSE...
Could be the other side.
The two cock sucking boys from the north part of the territory?
Who ever did it, and we will find out, showed they have no character. AND, anyone of the candidates who isn't standing up saying it's not true is guilty of association.
Any minute some moron will get on this blog and attempt to justify the mailer, of course anonymously.
The proof is in the identity. If these guys thought the charges were true they would put their name on it.
Holy shit Sam... I knew the 38th was being relatively quiet for too long!
The Hilfenhaus clan are a bunch of thugs. They believe in scorched-earth politics. It is all they know.
As Alger eluded to in his press release, the Hilfenhaus clan has not once ever discussed issues of the district. All they have ever done, even on this blog is attack Jim Alger.
Instead of providing any reason to vote for their candidate they throw out allegation after allegation, most of them either completely false or spun beyond recognition.
I casted my vote for Alger through early voting some time ago based on one thing, he mentioned the Cemex mine. I hate that damn thing and he discussed my issue.
All we ever get from Lyn is the party line bs, vague, canned spam.
I got 3 mail pieces in the last few days, one was the Shaw mailer that caused all the hoopla because she is asking us to vote for a dead woman.
The other 2 were from Alger. One Alger Sponsored slate mailer and a mail piece. The two pieces were like night and day.
Shaws had spelling errors, words mismatched and a horrible picture of her inside it. She went on and on in the third person and managed to say nothing more than she is a "good democrat."
Algers went on about various issues, cited his experience, and showed a true understanding of issues in the district. My vote will truly be a no brainer.
This negative crap just solidifies my vote. They are scared of him, otherwise they would ignore him. Obviously they figured out he was way ahead and decided to move quick.
My guess is that it may not work. With a 4 way race and many votes already cast these last minute attacks become less effective.
This was about the dumbest thing Lyn could have done.
No democratic activists like this kind of below the belt last minute "anonymous" hit mailers.
Shows a complete lack of ethic on her part and before you guys say "I didn't do it" save it... This has Hilfenhaus written all over it.
As has already been stated, NOONE gains from this except Lyn in her own mind. Jane Lowenthall and Sid Gold don't have the money for this.
Jane has spouted off about Alger but at least she has the integrity to say it herself.
Hiding behind an anonymous mailer is bad Lyn. I really thought better of you than that.
I agree with the general sentiment here. Lyn really stepped on it.
The Hilfenhaus's desperate grab for power may very well end up costing them badly.
This attack was low, illegal and incredibly poor form.
SHAME on you Lyn.
Jesus Christ Hilfenhaus, Like Mayor Sam said you guys mut really think we're complete idiots if you don't think we know ehere this hit piece came from.
Notice Alger didn't send out a hit piece on Shaw-Hilfenhauses Bankruptcies, family history of drug convictions or her mismanagement of money at her non-profit.
Boy he should have but some people have class... and then there is Hilfenhaus.
How many of these posts were by Jim Alger himself?
For the first time in my life, I will be walking the precincts.
Jim Alger has proved to me what he is capable of accomplishing, and I hope to convince my neighbors that this is the guy we need representing the 38th!
7:38#1... Yea, on GOTV weekend the leading State Assembly candidate spent all day on Mayor Sam... are you stupid???
We have just finally gotten fed up with Lyn's bs.
This type of thing makes our entire party look bad.
oh, and before you say he isn't the leader, he wouldn't be getting attacked if he wasn't.
People don't spend money to attack the loser.
Hey Mayor Sam, now we know where Lyns' $7,000.00 "returned contribution" was spent on.
Within days of her "returning" that contribution this mass mailer went out.
Easy dots to connect.
I saw this mail piece and let me say it is the most vile attack I have seen in years. The Shaw-Hilfenhaus team should apologize immediately.
This is just the shit that makes people not want to get involved in politics.
If I could vote for Alger, I would just because of this crap. You bastards have been attacking him for months all the while saying he isn't a factor.
Fucking amateurs.
Alger...stop trying to get the MS crew on your side. You're just mad because "you're gonna lose". Get over it, and grow the fuck up. If this type of mailer is in every campaign...why does it only show up when it happens to Alger?
Fucking prick.
Can someone please scan this mailer and post it someplace with a link? I'd like to see this piece of shite. Thanks.
hey jim werent you voted off as president of the neigborhood council....i think so
9:43 asshole,
This kind of stuff does show up in other campaigns and it is often discussed on this blog so shut your fucking pie hole.
I would be amazed if Alger lost this election given that Shaw just began campaigning a few weeks ago and according to yesterdays paper Jim out-raised Lyn by over 25%.
If your girl thought her victory was so secure she would have never gone off and ran an illegal hit piece on Alger.
And as for why we care, Lyn has been painting herself as the party democrat... then she dives into the dirt and launches a massive attack. That is bullshit gutter politics. The type we have all grown accustomed to in the land of the Hilfenfuckers.
Lynn Shaw Hilfenhaus was rebuked by the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley when they refused to endorse her.
She was then rebuked again when she failed to get the endorsement of Valley Grassroots for Democracy (They endorsed Jim Alger)
She was then rebuked again when she failed to get the endorsement of the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats.
One more time when she failed to get the endorsement of the LA County Young Democrats.
Yet again when she failed to get the endorsement of the Simi Valley Democratic Club (They endorsed Jim Alger)
One more time with the Democratic Alliance for Action in Santa Clarita whos club president was so outraged by Lyn Shaw-Hilfenhaus' antics that he switched his position from neutral to endorsing Jim Alger.
In Fact Jim Alger locked up nearly every endorsement in the district that could be had and blocked the rest, even getting the endorsement of the President of the Ventura County Chapter of the National organization for Women... they NEVER endorse men but even they don't like Shaw.
Jesus... no wonder she is attacking Jim, she has no district support at all.
For your sleuthing, MS, it sure would have been useful if that thar letter had a postmark on it. Oh well.
We'll see what the impact is in the district on Tuesday, I suppose. It seems to have had an exceedingly limited distribution from everything I've heard.
Oh, I forgot one. Ms. "Party Insider" couldn't ven muster the votes needed to get the Democratic Party endorsement. Now THAT says something.
Nobody likes Lyn... OK maybe a few Stonewalls kiss her ass but other then that if it weren't for a few union connections she would be kicked to the curb.
What you guys don't see is that Lyn is fighting for her life here. If she loses to Jim Alger she has cashed in all of her favors and other than a worker-bee she will be useless in the local party.
Lyns' problem is that she decided not to run a campaign for months. Alger did an excellent job of exploiting that. He dominated the free media for nearly a year, even achieving a few front page stories.
Lyn had no choice but to go negative. It is the only way you cover that kind of ground that fast but my gut tells me too little too late. Many people already voted.
Alger has been all over the place for months. Lyn has yet to even visit Simi Valley... wait she wants LA County Committee... of course she hasn't gone to Simi... which makes my point.
This is the typical last minute crap that candidates pull when they are behind.
Textbook Hilfenhaus.
Looks like the trolley flew off the tracks in AD 38. God damn Hilfenhaus slime machine finally caught up with them. What the hell were they thinking?
These below the belt tactics are nothing new to politics, but for a race that is a long shot at best in November this crap is virtually unheard of.
The rule of thumb us that you can usually tell who is ahead by who is being attacked. Even if everything in the hit mailer were true, and it almost NEVER is the truth let alone the whole truth, but even if it were I wouldn't listen to it for 2 reasons. It has nothing to do with how they would represent the people of the district and if an individual was confident of the veracity of the statement they wouldn't save it until the 11th hour, and wouldn't conceal their identity because they would not fear the response.
No, this was an illegal act of a complete coward. It is painfully obvious where it came from... good old Lyn.
10:54 matt: I got this mailer along with a second one with similar content and there was no postmark on either. I also got a slate mailer from the LACDP on the same day with a stamp but no postmark. The post office must be having to process so much of this crap that they aren't running them through the postmark machine.
Something to note is that there was no union bug on either mailer. Jim Hilfenhaus would never print anything without using a union shop. Having the bug would make it more traceable, so I figure he had them printed without the bug. There are only a few of them around so it shouldn't be too hard to find what shop did it.
Alot of huffing and puffing by lying spinnmister Jim Alger. The master of accusations based on half truths and innuendos is angry!
I would like to know who sent out the mailer to shake their hand. Who ever did is playing the game by Alger rules. His moral truth is, "What ever it takes to win."
I wish Alger the best of luck. How unfortunate that he's not in the public arena yet and his family is being attacked. I receive so many of those damn mailers I cut out my name and address and throw them away. There's too many to read and I don't know who half the people are.
Alger as a community volunteer has shown his passion, committment and dedication to being part of the solution not the problem. Even if by a miracle Lyn wins those mailers will come back to haunt her.
Jim has major support citywide from a lot of neighborhood councils. He's done more than anyone to go against issues affecting all of us.
Any one on Mayor Sam forget who wants Alger's career stopped before the City Elections.
yes, the boys in the north
RECALL VILLARAIGOSA
250,000 signatures needed.
Please sign petition on the link below:
watchdog.com
All Alger can do is cry and make accusations.
No link has been posted to the mailers so no one knows what is being talked about in Alger's background
I guess we find out if Mayor Sam's endorsement is worth a bucket of warm spit or not. Jim Alger campagns on Mayor Sam. Lyn Shaw campaigns with voters. June 7th tells the truth who the voters have chosen.
Alger opponents know you're stupid. or you wouldn't be supporting the lying jerk.
File a lawsuit, start asking around at the mail drops. This must have been dropped a some PO, somewhere. A similar enquiry got Angel Gonzales in the pokey (southgate print terrorist and al robles suckbutt). If there is a stock image on the mailer you might be able to get a sales record from the photohaus. Hope the mailhouse doesn't just dump in their rear dumpster, an enterprising young dumpster diver might get a good story.
The post of June4 @ 6:54PM shows why no one trusts Mayor Sam' site.
You can publish any lie and it is printed without fact checking.
Alger threantened Lyn Shaw with all the accusations published here out of faer that his background would come out.
The comment of fiscal mis-management is so untrue as to be both desperate and easily proven a lie.
Lyn has overseen an escalating fundraising increase for Tierra del Sol every year she has worked there. It is considered one of the SFV's premier charities. It is audited by several different agencies and has won national recognition for its' actions and activities and never been sited for a single negative act.
Never hear that on an AlGER sponsored site like this. Just a bail of un-rebuttable lies.
El gordo grande Stuart Waldman escribió ese comentario. Él está esperando que Lyn puede asumir el control al comité central así que él puede conseguir su nombramiento en 2008. Pero ese punto irá a un Latino.
Parada de Sr. Waldman que miente a la gente.
Alger has a career? High School grad, failed businessman, previously convicted of a crime, neighborhood volunteer, worked a couple months for Senator Alarcon who has not endorsed him, lost the vote to continue as an executive board member of his Neighborhood Council and all around gadfly.
What career?
Its over for Trujillo if 82 fails.
Boy those folks at the Ethelyn Lyn Shaw Hilfenhaus camp just couldn't get a fact straight if their lives depended on it.
HILFENHAUS was convicted of selling drugs to our kids in a school zone. Multiple bankruptcy filings, countless failed marriages between them... and she makes her living on the backs of the disabled.
She has run zero campaign in the district with the voters and resents the hell out of the fact that Jim has been pounding the pavement for months.
Alger didn't once go after Lyn, not because he fears their attacks but because he doesn't believe in gutter politics. The Lyn camp has been running a nasty campaign behind the scenes and all this does is put it in the limelight.
Notice, she still hasn't renounced the lies. Instead they are trying to justify them and deflect attention to other possible sources.
This came from Hilfenhaus... and they are to chickenshit to say it themselves.
What's a gadfly?
Who uses this term?
4:35: I think you should clarify that Jim Hilfenhaus has the drug conviction, not Lyn.
The only people who care about Jim having a "real job" has been camp Hilfenhaus.
The only people who have been going on about Jims "3 month" stint at Alarcons' office was Hilfenhaus. OK There was Lowenthall but that rude bat is a non-issue.(He was hired February 1 and left in mid July, 2 days before he filed his papers to run for office) Looks more like 6 months to me.
The only one hitting Alger for "Living with his parents" is Hilfenhaus. (Brad Sherman and Richard Alarcon "lived with their parents" maybe the Hilfenhaus clan wants to attack them now as well?)
Jims parents actually live with him. They are elderly and he cares for them, one an alzheimers patient. Only the Hilfenhauses use that as a bad thing.
Jim's case of "knowingly falsifying government documents" was actually a simple chekmark on a drivers license application over 10 years ago. An issue he has spoken about many times and has even issued press releases on it.
The case WAS DISMISSED 10 years ago in the interest of justice (ie:it should have never even been filed)according to the official records (which I bothered to check back when this info was first peddled months ago). The judge in the case even lambasted the DA for wasting the courts time. So this truly is a non-starter which is why we only see this hit at the last minute of the campaign.
Only the Hilfenhaus clan has been running around trying to tell anyone who would listen this load of bull. (OK once again there is Lowenthall but she is a lune)
And the thought that Smyth or even Englander/Smith consider Alger enough of a threat to hit him now thereby dilluting the effectiveness of any hit later is laughable. Both are smarter than that. Nice try though.
Nope, you guys are right. Only Shaw-Hilfenhaus gain from this.
Okay, Alger had a career for 6 months. Wow, talk about nose to the grindstone. What is he? In his mid 30's and all he brings to the table is a high school diploma, a bankrupt business, no work history to speak of, a conviction, and recent community activism against DWP and WalMart.
What am I taking Crazy Pills? Is there someone actually supporting this guy?
Calling all Alger Supports!!! Please post you telephone numbers, I know some telemarketers looking for easy marks.
The Hilfenhaus folks say it was not them and are trying to lead the trail over to Smyth/Englander. I doubt that though, both of them are probably not that dumb, whereas Lyn is about as bright as a three watt bulb.
Shaw is about as bright as a three watt bulb but still out shines Alger.
Cameron is looking forward to taking on Shaw. "Fat old ugly liberal white woman!"
So 6:01pm... Alger who was severely disabled after a massive knee injury and was living for years off of the investments made after his first successful business should be criticized because he, instead of collecting the disability who could be, decides to represent the people and make his community a better place?
And you guys call yourselves friends of the disabled? Oh, thats right. Your their friend as long as you can get paid for it and until they disagree with you. Then you take swings at them in the parking lot. Nice.
Living off investments but still bankrupt! Hiding his assests so he does not have to pay? With Alger it is, "By any means necessary."
RECALL VILLARAIGOSA!!!!!!
250,000 signatures needed!
Please sign Petition to Recall at
watchdog.com
Why would anyone label Jane Lowenthal a "lune"? From what I have observed, it is the two major antagonists of the 38th AD Dem primary who are suffering from cognitive dissonance.
Lowenthal is the only candidate who has had experience as a state government official, has an advanced university degree, has facilitated state and federal legislation benefiting the average citizen, has remained focused on state issues (as opposed to municipal issues) in this race, has not had her/his spouse attack anyone or clutter up email mailboxes with personal "saga" episodes, has not had to resort to using the obituary column to recruit delegates for a LA County Central Committee slate, has not sent nasty mailers or postcard "hit" pieces, and, even though she is not the annointed "labor" candidate, has secured the endorsement of the California State Employees Association.
She does, however, lack a criminal record and a bankruptcy.
So, tell me: Who is the "lune?"
Well said 11:35. I think anyone who has previously been convicted of a crime and who can not manage their own finances should not be elected to pass laws and manage the state budget.
11:35 Jane... just sign your name to your posts.
Your a pathetic little woman who spouts off hate at every chance you get and has manadged to destroy every group you come into contact with.
Brokering negative information about all candidates while saying you first raised 30K... then less than 20K now 5K but you have "pledges" for over a million!
YOU are a lune, with a side of atic.
She is a lune who has not been convicted of a crime or filed for bankruptcy. I would rather have a lune than a crook who can not balance their check book.
Jane's a fine candidate, and would probably make a good assemblymember. I was surprised that she didn't file a ballot statement or distribute literature for the race.
Alger loses by 881 votes, the nearly final word
What is amazing is all th ebile and bullshit of Camp Alger accusing Lyn and Jim of the kind of slander his team has engaged in copiously throughout the campaign and the absurdity of an Alger challenge to engage in a meritorious debate, on his bought and paid for Mayor Sam site.
Alger was able to campaign every day for months because he never had a job for years, aside for a brief period for Alarcon. Lyn on the other hand works for a non-profit charity at non-profit wages, around a liveable wage level, but at great sacrifice to herself financially because she believes in her work and doing good without putting out a press release for every act of charity she engages in.
It would be nice if someone had actually had evidence of a bad act by Lyn that they could docuement an not just post anonymous internet slander.
Jim Alger's court records are researchable docuements. He was convicted of felony perjury. His appeal was denied. He had the record expunged. That is a pardon for a crime not a declaration of innocence. He served 90 days County time and was required to undergo psychiatric couseling by the sentencing judge. That part, the psych counseling, was removed from the sentence by another judge that had not seen him before but agreed that it was not related to committing fraud and removed it. Alger is required to inform any employers of his crime as a part of the expungement. Felony perjury is the only crime that can prevent you from running for office unless it is expunged, which Jim Alger did in 2005.
So now the truth about Alger is out. He is a crook and a nut.
This is why good people don't want to run for office.
You are right Shaw and Lowenthal are good people and look at what Alger and his supporters did to them.
Hey Sam, nice work scoring that "mayor" title. Just swinging around that there internet checking out other Sam's who have their own site.
You're winning so far.
6:54 pm Actually he withdrew his plea in the case and was found not guilty. Publishing half a record doesn't make it right. Let us also keep this in context, he literally missed a box on his drivers license application over 10 years ago... oh WOW.. big crime! Lets get him!
Also, it was expunged in 1996,not 2005 and would be no bar to running for public office.
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