Anonymous Sonoma Council mailer ‘violates election code’

As California’s campaign watchdog agency continued investigating an anonymous campaign mailer sent to Sonoma Valley residents earlier this month, another attack mailer was sent anonymously last week.

The latest mailer, printed on 8-1/2 by 11-inch card stock and delivered last week, quotes City Council candidate Logan Harvey as supposedly “liking socialized programs,” calls Harvey and incumbent candidate Rachel Hundley “welfare politicians” and attacks Prop. 10, a measure on the Nov. 6 ballot, as “socializing real estate.”

The California Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating the earlier mailer, an anonymous postcard sent Oct. 4 and 5 that described a City Hall in turmoil due to “a polarized City Council” and recommended three candidates.

Incumbent candidate Rachel Hundley reported the postcard to the commission and has also reported the latest mailer. The first complaint is being investigated and the second complaint is under review, “which is always the first step before any investigation is or isn’t opened,” said Jay Wierenga, a spokesman for the commission.

“Under California’s Political Reform Act, campaign advertisements must have disclaimers that identify the committee that paid for or authorized the communication,” according to the committee’s website. Neither mailer contains such disclaimers.

Seven people are running for the City Council in the Nov. 6 election. The latest mailer, sent toward the end of last week, attacks two of the candidates because they are renters. While a line at the bottom reads, “sara travis [sic] started this petition,” referring to the fact that the mailer is a reproduction of a Change.org petition, nowhere does the mailer identify “sara travis” or explain how the flyer is funded.

The mailer especially focuses on candidate Logan Harvey, featuring a thumbnail photo and quoting him, “Well my generation rather likes socialized program [sic] … We want to tax wealthy people [homeowners] and redistribute wealth … and tax investment earnings.”’

In response, Harvey said, “The things I was referring to in that quote are programs like universal health care.

“I do support universal health care and lower-cost colleges. But I do not support raising property taxes in Sonoma,” Harvey said. “I was quoted very much out of context.”

The mailer says of Harvey and Hundley, “There is no doubt these renters will go after our homes if we give them the chance,” and recommends four other candidates because, it alleges, they are homeowners - although actually this is only true of three of those recommended.

Harvey said he had no idea what “go after our homes” referred to.

“I was really offended that they say renters are never going to be on the City Council. That defames a number of good people in Sonoma who happen to be renters,” Harvey said.

“I know a lot of teachers who rent here, nurses and doctors who are renters, business owners. There is a lawyer on the City Council right now, Rachel Hundley, who is a renter,” Harvey said.

Regardless of whether the mailer violates campaign regulations, Harvey said it violates ethical standards, and the originator should have supplied identifying information.

Hundley, the other candidate attacked in the mailer, said, “It’s even more important now to make sure our City Council reflects the perspectives of people across the community, including renters.”

Hundley, an attorney, said the mailer “absolutely violates our election code.”

She added, “Under the Political Reform Act, any piece of mail that is advocating for or against a candidate that is distributed to over 200 people has to include information about who paid for it.”

No official count of the number of mailers sent yet exists.

Hundley said, “I think whoever sent these mailers is taking a page from (President Donald) Trump’s playbook and using fear to motivate people to vote against candidates they think will be harmful to their own financial interests.”

The mailer, a reproduction of a Change.org petition titled, “Sonoma – Proposition 10 will cost the average Sonoma homeowner $100,000. Vote No!” Prop. 10, a measure on the November ballot, would change the Costa–Hawkins Rental Housing Act, a California state law that limits municipal rent control ordinances.

One line at the bottom of the mailer identifies “sara travis” as having started the Change.org petition reproduced in the flyer.

A message sent to the “sara travis” email address by the Index-Tribune requesting an interview yielded no interview, but a brief email response parroting the anti-renter message of the flyer.

A follow-up message from the Index-Tribune requesting documentation of whether the “sara travis” entity owns a residence in Sonoma and asking who paid for the mailer got no response.

Seven candidates are running for the City Council. Candidate Jack Wagner is the only candidate who isn’t mentioned in the mailer.

The mailer recommends four candidates because, according to the mailer, they are homeowners. However, candidate James Cribb clarified that he is actually a renter.

“I think that’s an important distinction to be made, obviously clearly showing that whoever did (the flyer) does not know me and is unaware of the actual situation,” Cribb said.

He added, “I condemn (the mailer). It is very interesting to me because I think all of us who have been in this race – we’ve appeared in forums and events together and have all been cordial and really focused on our message.”

Chris Petlock, who was also recommended in the mailer, said, “I don’t support anyone who is not following the rules. I’d rather not be endorsed at all than be endorsed by an anonymous sender.”

Petlock added, “I’ve lived here all my life and have never seen anything like this before. Rachel going to Burning Man, who cares? Stuff about my past. Now they’re calling Logan Harvey a socialist. This has nothing to do with Sonoma.”

The candidate was referring to ugly accusations that have circulated in this election. In August, supposedly compromising photos from Hundley’s past were posted in an attempt to get her to drop her re-election bid. Hundley fought back, posting a YouTube video in which she said the group was “trying to silence another strong female voice by scaring me out of this election.”

Multiple tips about Petlock’s long-ago past were shared anonymously with the Index-Tribune in August. Petlock responded in detail, describing himself as a changed man.

None of these smear campaigns are associated with any of the candidates and all seven have disavowed any knowledge of the mailers.

“The candidates, the seven of us, we are all polite to each other,” Petlock said.

The other three candidates recommended in this latest mailer all said they had no idea who sent it and disapproved of the tactic.

Jack Ding said he had received angry email criticizing him for the first mailer. “I didn’t send it. I have no idea where it came from,” he said. He also repudiated the second mailer.

Mayor Madolyn Agrimonti said, “I would never authorize anything like this and I am not interested in being endorsed by mystery people.” She speculated of the tactic, “Maybe it’s a trickle-down from our national politics.”

Sonoma city officials have reached out to the state election commission, according to an email sent to the candidates and the Index-Tribune by City Clerk Rebekah Barr.

“Though the City does not have a local ordinance covering these types of mailers/emails, they may violate state laws,” the email noted, including a link to the commission’s website where suspected violations can be reported: http://www.fppc.ca.gov/enforcement/electronic-complaint-system.html

“If you or someone you know believe you have received a fraudulent or non-compliant mailer, please encourage them to reach out to the FPPC through their new portal,” Barr’s email said.

Email Janis at janis.mara@sonomanews.com.