Is the Bay Area progressive? These key district attorney races will show how voters see crime and policing

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A Santa Clara County district lawyer candidate grabbed a microphone at a latest debate and made what may’ve appeared like an apparent declaration.
“I’m a profession prosecutor who’s dedicated to prosecuting crime,” he stated.
Daniel Chung emphasised this primary perform of the job to make a degree, to plant a flag because the candidate who could be robust on crime at a time when such rhetoric is making a comeback in a state that’s perceived to be bluer than it’s.
On June 7, voters will forged ballots for district lawyer in each California county besides Los Angeles. Occurring throughout the summer time major when voter turnout is often low, the offseason elections may nonetheless decide how far the prison justice pendulum swings in a second of pandemic-stewed uncertainty.
Two years after George Floyd’s homicide summoned nationwide outrage at systemic abuses within the prison authorized system, many giant cities are mired in rancorous debates concerning the severity and causes of crime spikes — together with what position elected prosecutors play in a state the place homicides climbed in both Republican and Democratic counties.
Voters “need an evolution in our method to crime and prison justice,” stated Cristine Soto DeBerry, founding director of the progressive Prosecutors Alliance of California and a former public defender in Los Angeles County. “They need us to concentrate on prevention. They need us to concentrate on therapeutic. They need us to be extra racially equitable.”
For Greg Totten, CEO of the extra conventional California District Attorneys Association and the previous district lawyer of Ventura County, that messaging isn’t as fashionable with voters or candidates because it was 4 years in the past, the final time greater than 50 DA races have been determined.
“There wasn’t the extent of crime and public concentrate on crime that there’s at present,” Totten stated. “You mix that with a few of the video photographs that we’re getting on the night information of smash-and-grab thefts and outright lawlessness, and I feel the general public is awakening.”
Nowhere is that this debate extra animated than within the Bay Space, which is within the midst of a political identification disaster. If the effort to recall San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin will be seen as a referendum on progressive values, 4 different DA races across the area will take a look at voters’ notions of authorized order and social justice — and whether or not the 2 can coexist.
Alameda County: Outdated guard or new?

Alameda candidates for district lawyer Terry Wiley, Pamela Value, Seth Steward, and Jimmie Wilson.
Offered by Terry Wiley marketing campaign; Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle; Offered by Seth Steward campai/The ChronicleIn Alameda County, longtime DA Nancy O’Malley’s retirement created a four-way race to succeed her. Whoever wins would be the first non-white DA within the various county’s historical past — however the candidates aren’t making pains to show they’re probably the most liberal one within the race.
That is in distinction with how Keally McBride recollects rhetoric within the 2018 race.
“Everybody was making an attempt to out-progressive each other,” stated McBride, a professor of politics on the College of San Francisco. “And now I feel you’re seeing that an emphasis on public security doesn’t sound routinely right-wing, which it will have 5 years in the past.”
Terry Wiley, Alameda County’s longtime chief assistant district lawyer operating for DA, has a slogan that’s telling of the occasions: “Peace AND Justice.”
“It isn’t a selection of 1, or the opposite,” reads a quote on his web site. “Our residents demand and deserve each.”
However Wiley, endorsed by quite a few native officers and a handful of civil-rights attorneys, doesn’t speak robust on crime as a lot as his fellow candidate and DA’s workplace veteran prosecutor Jimmie Wilson.
“I’ve been endorsed by each single police division from the tip of Alameda County to the underside of Alameda County,” Wilson stated within the debate, held by the League of Ladies Voters Piedmont. “We will’t have individuals going into our shops, looting, stealing.”
In Oakland, the county’s most populous metropolis, property crimes hit a six-year low in 2020, the newest yr for which the California Division of Justice has information, although burglaries and automotive thefts have been up. The controversy round crime is heightened in Alameda County, the place a spike in Oakland homicides helped make it the epicenter of violence within the Bay Space in 2020 and 2021.
Town and county have deep histories of progressive activism and pushes for police reform, although that hasn’t at all times translated into motion by the DA’s workplace, in keeping with the ACLU of Northern California.
A March 2021 report from the ACLU of Northern California and the City Peace Motion stated forward-minded insurance policies have been missing within the Alameda County DA’s workplace in 2017 and 2018. Among the many findings: The workplace missed most alternatives for pretrial diversion in low-level instances, opposed individuals’s launch in 70% of all parole hearings it attended, and wanted to enhance its information assortment and retention.
Wiley’s leaning on his progressive bona fides, together with his work prosecuting the notorious Oakland police “Riders” case — involving a band of officers who abused residents. That case, stemming from a lawsuit introduced by civil rights lawyer John Burris, led to 20 years of federal oversight for the Oakland Police Division, which is nearing its finish. Burris has endorsed Wiley for DA.
Seth Steward, a U.S. Air Pressure veteran and former San Francisco prosecutor, pitches himself as the one who can enhance public belief within the workplace. He stated he would enhance pretrial diversion, go after racism within the system and launch information periodically on instances to strengthen public belief.
“We have to advocate for widespread sense gun legal guidelines,” he stated within the debate. “Banning ghost weapons, banning ghost-gun kits and having background checks are all issues we have to do all through Alameda County.”
He stated the remainder of the county wanted to hitch Oakland in banning ghost weapons, that are firearms that may be bought on-line in kits and assembled at home. The January ban got here after the weapons had develop into extra prevalent within the metropolis since 2019.
Civil rights lawyer Pamela Value, who secured 42% of the vote when she ran in 2018, is likely to be probably the most left-wing within the race. The primary endorsement on her web site is from legendary activist and UC Santa Cruz professor Angela Davis.
“Prosecutors have been on the coronary heart of mass incarceration,” she stated, promising to interrupt the cycle. “And collectively we’ll defend public security.”
Whereas Wilson is main the pack in marketing campaign contributions, with $632,000 from the beginning of 2021 to April 23, marketing campaign finance information present he’s being closely outspent by Wiley, the second-place fundraiser, and Value, who launched herself on the debate as “a drum main for justice.” The latter two candidates have every spent roughly $270,000 on their campaigns in comparison with Wilson’s $153,000.
Contra Costa: Shootings loom over race

Contra Costa District Legal professional Diana Becton and prosecutor Mary Knox, who’s difficult the incumbent.
Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle; Offered by Mary Knox4 years in the past, Diana Becton was one of many few progressive candidates to truly break by way of and win a district attorney race in California. First appointed to the position in 2017, Becton turned the first woman and the first African-American person elected DA in Contra Costa County historical past by securing simply over half of the 197,000 ballots forged within the race. That determine represented 33% of the county’s registered voters in June 2018.
Now, she seeks to beat a fundraising drawback — and frustration from supporters who say she hasn’t moved quick sufficient to carry police accountable — amid stiff competitors from Mary Knox, a law-and-order prosecutor supported by the police unions and Sheriff David Livingston.
Two shootings by former sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Corridor forged a shadow over the DA’s race in Contra Costa. He killed two males whereas on responsibility, each males of colour who’d struggled with psychological sickness.
DA Becton deliberated for two-and-a-half years earlier than she introduced expenses of voluntary manslaughter and assault towards Corridor for the November 2018 taking pictures of Laudemer Arboleda, who was fleeing in a automotive at 6 mph when Corridor stepped in entrance of the car and began firing. By the point he was charged, Hall had shot and killed another man whereas on patrol in Danville. Corridor was convicted of assault by a jury and sentenced in March to six years in state jail.
“This was a historic case for Contra Costa County within the sense that an officer had by no means been charged and held accountable on this approach earlier than,” Becton stated throughout a latest candidate discussion board on Contra Costa Tv. “We’re ensuring that it doesn’t matter what place you might be in, you aren’t above the legislation.”
Becton hasn’t but determined whether or not to cost Corridor for the March 2021 taking pictures of Tyrell Wilson.
Knox, who’s been on the DA’s workplace almost 40 years, was one in every of 4 native prosecutors to signal a letter criticizing the DA’s delay in bringing expenses within the Arboleda killing.
“That … delay in submitting the costs was very regarding,” Knox stated within the discussion board, declining to touch upon the details of the case. “If the taking pictures was not justified, then the costs ought to have been filed again in 2018.”
Knox, supported by a sheriff who doesn’t believe his convicted deputy did anything wrong, stated she determined to run “to revive security to Contra Costa County.” She referenced organized retail thefts, akin to a November case involving 90 individuals dashing in a Walnut Creek Nordstrom retailer to steal merchandise. Knox stated the case was case proof that criminals have been drawn to the county, as a result of they figured they wouldn’t be punished with Becton in cost.
Becton stated she’s labored to carry these accountable for thefts accountable and famous there haven’t been different mass thefts.
Property crimes fell to a 30-year low in Contra Costa County in 2020, in keeping with the newest state Justice Division information. There have been additionally the fewest shoplifting crimes since 2010.
Knox has a severe fundraising benefit. She’d acquired $390,000 in contributions by April 23, whereas a committee supporting her candidacy and nearly completely bankrolled by the Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriffs Affiliation has invested an extra $200,000, marketing campaign disclosures present. Becton had raised roughly $295,000.
Native progressive activist Veronica Benjamin, co-founder of Aware Contra Costa, stated she hasn’t been completely happy with Becton as DA, although she plans to help her over Knox.
“We want she had been somewhat extra brave” by charging Corridor sooner, Benjamin stated. “That stated, I do know the lady operating towards her would’ve by no means introduced expenses in one million and one years.”
Solano County: Bent badges and acknowledging racism

Candidates for Solano County district lawyer: prosecutor Sharon Henry and incumbent Krishna Abrams.
Offered by Krishna Abrams marketing campaign and Sharon Henry marketing campaignIn Solano County, DA Krishna Abrams is making an attempt to carry off Chief Deputy District Legal professional Sharon Henry, who has endorsements from numerous Democratic teams whereas Abrams counts the native deputy sheriffs affiliation amongst her supporters.
Abrams has been DA in Solano County since 2014. In that point, she says she has elevated use of pretrial diversion applications akin to restorative justice whereas holding individuals charged with severe and violent crimes accountable.
She has additionally encountered criticism for her dealing with of legislation enforcement killings, like when she cited the general public’s eroded belief in recusing her workplace from investigating two separate Vallejo police shootings. Abrams finally appointed an outdoor particular prosecutor to look into the 2019 killing of rapper Willie McCoy in a Taco Bell drive-thru, and Legal professional Common Rob Bonta agreed final yr to take over the investigation into the lethal 2020 taking pictures of Sean Monterrosa in a Walgreens parking zone, however Bonta stated Abrams had “unilaterally abdicated her duty.”
Throughout a Might 4 discussion board, Abrams declined to take a place on whether or not there was racial bias in native policing, although she stated she needed to proceed the general public dialogue about the issue. “I meet with a whole lot of pastors and we speak concerning the totally different points that come up locally,” she stated.
Henry seized on the DA’s reply.
“Racial bias is all over the place,” stated Henry, whom Abrams recruited as her second in command. “It’s a must to have a district lawyer who’s prepared to really acknowledge that. It’s going to take way more than simply going out and speaking to pastors.”
After elevating $40,000 this yr, Abrams has the fundraising benefit over Henry’s $27,000.
The DA’s race takes place towards a backdrop of a scandal in Vallejo. Officers allegedly have had a apply of bending the guidelines of their badges after an on-duty taking pictures. In March, a number of officers admitted this occurred throughout sworn testimony, the Vallejo Solar reported.
However Abrams stated an investigation discovered no proof to help the officers’ statements, although officers have declined to launch the report on the inquiry.
“If (officers did that) it will horrify me,” she stated. “The report has come again and didn’t confirm the allegations that have been within the newspaper.”
Some in Solano County have been pushing for a civilian oversight board, which Abrams stated she doesn’t help as a result of it’s not wanted.
Henry disagreed.
“I positively assume the residents of Solano County ought to discover civilian oversight of legislation enforcement,” she stated. “Miss Abrams says there’s adequate checks and balances, and but allegations of misconduct nonetheless exist.”
Santa Clara County: DA faces first problem in 12 years

Candidates for Santa Clara County district lawyer: Daniel Chung, Sajid Khan and incumbent Jeff Rosen.
Offered by Daniel Chung marketing campaign; Josie Lepe / Particular to The Chronicle; Nina Riggio / Particular toThe ChronicleIt was the stumble debated about on-line, with Santa Clara County’s incumbent district lawyer accused of sticking his foot out to journey a rival throughout an April 29 candidates discussion board.
The disputed journey overshadowed what had been a spirited debate about who ought to lead the biggest prosecutor’s workplace in Northern California, one which has generally been a laboratory for reform across the nation.
This yr’s race is new territory for three-term DA Jeff Rosen, who hasn’t been in a contested election since 2010, when he was the challenger and ousted the county’s first feminine DA, Dolores Carr. Now Rosen, who says he’s the primary registered Democrat to carry his nonpartisan workplace, is fending off competition from the left and the correct, as he battles progressive public defender Sajid Khan and former prosecutor Daniel Chung, who’s suing Rosen for allegedly forcing him out of the DA’s workplace.
Khan, who’s gained endorsements from progressive teams and a smattering of state and native elected officers, is likely to be the closest analog to the 2019 Boudin. The South Bay native and son of Muslim immigrants is a veteran public defender who has made rehabilitation and alternate options to incarceration the central problems with his marketing campaign, and says remedy and diversion applications needs to be on the desk even for individuals accused of robbing individuals, committing home violence or stealing automobiles.
“We have to have a D.A.’s workplace tradition that doesn’t have fun convictions and excessive conviction charges and life sentences,” Khan stated throughout the discussion board hosted by Sacred Heart Community Service. “We have to have a DA’s workplace that celebrates fixing hurt … and connecting individuals with providers that make them, their households and communities safer in the long run.”
Chung, one other South Bay native raised in a single-parent immigrant family, accuses Rosen of being too reform-minded and stated he entered the race as a result of he doesn’t assume the present administration is targeted sufficient on the first responsibility of prosecuting crimes.
“When you care about justice, together with racial justice for defendants, you additionally need to care about justice for victims,” Chung stated on the discussion board. “We’d like steadiness in our system.”
Rosen is presenting himself as that steadiness. He stated he was one in every of just a few elected prosecutors on the time to help each Propositions 36 and 47, the voter-approved initiatives that reigned in California’s three-strikes legislation and decreased penalties for lower-level crimes, respectively. Rosen additionally created the nation’s first conviction-review unit in 2011, which he stated has since exonerated seven wrongfully convicted individuals.
“We now have to do each of these issues — each prison justice reforms in addition to public security,” Rosen stated on the discussion board. “When you solely pursue a type of, you find yourself with neither.”
With greater than $532,000 in marketing campaign donations — a lot of it from attorneys and Realtors — Rosen has raised greater than his two challengers mixed. However he and Khan aren’t that far aside in marketing campaign spending; each have dumped nicely over $200,000 into their races, and Khan really outraised Rosen in the newest reporting interval that resulted in April.
Chung, who entered the race in November, has solely managed to lift $22,500 for his upstart marketing campaign. However his persistent criticism could also be getting beneath his former boss’ pores and skin, as their run-in ultimately month’s discussion board appeared to point.
As the talk concluded, Rosen rose from his center seat at an oblong desk inside a classroom and commenced accumulating his papers. Chung, who sat to Rosen’s left, stood and supplied his hand to Rosen, who didn’t take it. Chung then moved behind Rosen and shook arms with Khan. As Chung moved again to his seat, Rosen picked up his briefcase from towards the wall. Chung stumbled over Rosen’s left foot and caught himself on Rosen’s chair.
“Oh sorry,” Rosen stated.
“You simply tripped him,” Khan confronted Rosen.
“No, he simply tripped,” Rosen retorted.
The three candidates then awkwardly sat down because the moderator completed her closing remarks, telling attendees how vital it’s for them to vote.
Joshua Sharpe and Raheem Hosseini are San Francisco Chronicle workers writers. Electronic mail: joshua.sharpe@sfchronicle.com, raheem.hosseini@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joshuawsharpe, @raheemfh
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