Sign Wars dragging on; Trenches now dug deeper

The Marin County Sign Wars are escalating, with tit for tat from supporters of the judicial candidate calling herself Judge Nancy. Now she has gone and put a thicker line between the words Judge and Nancy as if that means anything or can shield her from the law.

Slightly grimy view of offending sign through windshield

Her supporters point out more minor infractions of others, many of whom have rectified their problem and apologized for any misleading impressions they might have caused. Not so Judge Nancy. She is in full on trench warfare,

This can't end well. See the Marin IJ's latest of the subject. Front page, above the fold.

Full article for your entertainment here:

Marin judicial race sees more mud fly over alleged misrepresentations

Marin judicial candidates Nancy McCarthy, Renee Marcelle and David Shane have been accused of suggesting incumbency in their campaign materials. Sheila Lichtblau’s website, lower right, pictures her with retired judge Lynn Duryee, who is wearing a judicial robe. (Clockwise from top left: Robert Tong/Marin Independent Journal; marcelleforjudge.com; sheilaforjudge.com; shaneforjudge.com)

By Gary Klien, Marin Independent Journal

Posted: 05/22/16, 

 

A supporter for a Marin judicial candidate accused of misleading voters has lodged similar complaints against four other candidates.

Nancy McCarthy, one of nine candidates in the June 7 election for a Marin judgeship, has come under criticism for campaign materials that could suggest she is a sitting judge. The materials place the words “Judge” and “Nancy” close together in extra large type.

The materials prompted a complaint to the Marin County District Attorney’s Office. The complaint came from a supporter for rival candidate Renee Marcelle.

The district attorney referred the matter to the state Attorney General’s Office for review because three county prosecutors are running in the primary.

Under state elections law, it is a misdemeanor when a candidate, in an effort to “mislead” voters, “assumes, pretends, or implies, by his or her statements, conduct, or campaign materials, that he or she is the incumbent of a public office when that is not the case.” Violators can be subject to civil action by other candidates.

McCarthy, a labor and employment lawyer, has denied any intention to mislead voters. On Thursday, Linda Remy, a McCarthy supporter, sent a letter to state and county prosecutors seeking an evaluation of possible “misrepresentations” by four other candidates.

The other candidates are Marcelle; Otis Bruce, a county prosecutor; Sheila Lichtblau, a deputy county counsel; and David Shane, a personal injury lawyer.

“All candidates should be treated alike,” Remy wrote.

Remy cited examples of campaign materials where Bruce, Marcelle and Shane placed judge-related phrases close enough to the candidates’ names to suggest incumbency.

For example, Marcelle’s website had her name over the words “Marin Superior Court Judge,” although the campaign has since added the word “for.”

Bruce declined to comment, and Shane did not respond to a request for comment, but both have amended their websites.

Marcelle said she did not create the website, but she added the word “for” after learning of the oversight.

“Regardless, no one would responsibly argue that there was at all, any intent to deceive,” she said. “Certainly if one did get misled in the slightest, I apologize and take full responsibility.”

In the case of Lichtblau, Remy cited campaign materials that picture her with two retired judges who are supporting her. The retired judges, who now work as mediators, are wearing judicial robes.

 

Remy calls that a misrepresentation. Lichtblau says her campaign materials “clearly identify” both former judges as retired.

“There is no misrepresentation,” Lichtblau said. “I remain humbled by and proud of the judicial support I’ve earned.”

District Attorney Ed Berberian did not respond to an inquiry on whether he has referred Remy’s complaint to the Attorney General’s Office.

Brenda Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for the Attorney General’s Office, did not respond to an inquiry on whether the complaint is under review.

The candidates are running to succeed Judge Faye D’Opal, who is leaving when her terms ends on Dec. 31. Unless a candidate wins an outright majority on June 7, the top two vote-getters will compete in the general election on Nov. 8.

The other four candidates in the race are Michael Coffino, a public defender; Beth Jordan, a family law specialist; Thomas McCallister, a county prosecutor; and Nicole Pantaleo, a county prosecutor.