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Tell Us What You Really Think, Bonnie

Published: Friday, October 19, 2007 9:42 AM PDT


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And this just in from District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis on this very subject. (The reference to Bar Leaders is to lawyers, not barkeeps, although they may feel as strongly about this issue):

Dear Bar Leaders:

I am writing to ask you to join me in supporting deputy District Attorney Bill Gentry for San Diego City Attorney. I am attaching his resume which reflects his stellar legal and military careers. Bill is a man of honesty and integrity and a leader who can make fair and reasoned decisions. I am supporting him because I strongly believe he possesses the skills necessary to restore order, integrity, and competence to the City Attorney's office.

This will undoubtedly be a tough but important campaign. We should all be mindful of the case of Durham District Attorney Michael Nifong who was forced to resign from office for prosecutorial abuse. As attorneys we all know that the power to prosecute must be carefully wielded. I am very concerned about the manner in which this City Attorney recklessly and without supporting evidence accuses citizens in our community of corruption, conspiracy and other criminal misconduct. Prosecutors must always file charges based upon evidence and never base their cases on unsubstantiated beliefs. Prosecutors should always try their cases in a courtroom, not in the media and only after a complete and thorough investigation. I am confident that you would agree that when pursuing justice there can be no place for careless and reckless behavior.

I am also concerned that this City Attorney has continually failed to abide by the rules of professional conduct. In fact Judge Wellington found his actions in a recent criminal prosecution so outrageous that his entire office was recused when it was determined that the defendant could not receive a fair trial if his office remained on the case. The Judge found that the City Attorney used the criminal process to gain advantage in a civil matter. (The full decision can be viewed at VoiceofSan Diego.com).

Many in our community are equally concerned about the destructive behavior of this City Attorney and his negative impact upon our city.

Their concerns have been expressed to me privately for many months. The problems created by his conduct are compounded by the staggering financial cost to the city resulting from his incompetence. The current problems faced by our city are too significant to allow this situation to continue.

For all of these reasons I am supporting Bill Gentry for City Attorney.

I was very pleased when Bill decided to run for City Attorney. Shortly, I will be sending a letter to the legal community and my supporters asking them to also support Bill. I would like to add your name to my letter as a supporter of Bill. If you agree you would be joining other community leaders such as Mark Adelman, Andy Albert, Charlie Bird, Judith Copeland, Bob Grimes, Mike Neil, Jessie Rodriguez, Robert Steiner and Todd Stevens in declaring your support for a new city attorney.

I am aware that some may be reluctant to publicly support an opponent of this City Attorney for fear of retaliation. However, that is precisely why you should declare your support for Bill Gentry. As members of the bar and, frankly, as members of our community, we cannot submit to this type of intimidation. Public officials should never be permitted to govern by fear and we should never tolerate bullies terrorizing our citizens. When that occurs we all have a duty to step forward and stand up for what is right. Please, email me as soon as possible at bonniedumanis@hotmail.com (or hit reply) and let me know that I may include your name as a supporter of Bill Gentry for City Attorney.

Thank you.

Bonnie

p.s. Time is of the essence



-- CHARLES LA BELLA




23 Comments so far on this story...

What, nothing about cockfighting? Gee. Btw, hope that wasn't on DA letterhead...

Posted by TY | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 9:13 am

So this is what it looks like to see rats scurry. // Of course we all know that with the good Aguirre does, there comes also the bad, but in the minds of many, the good far outweighs the bad, or put in a metaphorical kind of way, the rat poison effects far outweigh the danger of handling and disposing of the poisonous product.

Posted by Christopher Hall | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 9:13 am

Speaking of campaigns, could this possibly be true? link Are Sanders and Aguirre really sharing the same treasurer? Maybe they're tighter than everybody thinks....

Posted by TY | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 9:21 am

Ms. Dumanis is correct - Aguirre must GO. Whether it is Dan Coffey or Bill Gentry, either one would serve the city honestly, competently and fairly. However, Ms. Dumanis went after city retirement pension board members unfairly. Their lives were ruined. Where were the mayor, city managers (Uberuaga, Ewell)et al when all the charges were being leveled? They got off without a scratch, and the pension board members took the entire blame for voting on benefit increases that the CITY asked for. The city employees had NO SAY in any of the negotiations. Ms. Dumanis needs to start looking in the mirror before pointing fingers at Mike Nifong Aguirre.

Posted by Cheeky | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 9:43 am

I knew I liked Bonnie Dumanis for some reason! LOL

Posted by Howiek | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 9:43 am

From an U-T's Gerry Braun "Axis of Virtue" interview in July: "Early in our lunch, we learned that Dumanis does not want anyone to think political considerations influence the Public Integrity Unit. For that reason, she has sworn off endorsing fellow politicians, or seeking their endorsements." What happened to her comments about avoiding the appearance of political favoritism? Does her desire to see Aguire out of office mean more to her than her very public commitment to stay out of politics?

Posted by How quickly they forget! | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 9:51 am

Hey Bonnie...one quick point. In July you mentioned that you would not endorse anyone for any office. Did something change? Did Bill Gentry finally get approval to join the Axis of Virtue? You are making Paul Pfingst look like a competent DA and making fools of those of us who voted for you. You are a politician plain and simple....something we dont need at the DA's office. I cant wait to vote against you. Hypocrite!

Posted by Wow | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 10:03 am

Bonnie Dumanis has sunk to a new low. She and William Gentry, Jr. have a bad habit of covering up wrongdoing. Gentry came up with a plea deal for Lowell “Sam” Bryan Bruce, a sheriff's deputy who killed his wife in Alpine in front of their young son, that raised questions about whether Bruce was getting special treatment because of his job in law enforcement. The judge said prosecutors should either try Bruce on murder charges as planned or refile the case on lesser charges if they think Bruce should get a lower sentence, according to a July 13, 2007 SDUT article. Taxpayers would be better off if public employees were held accountable, not let off the hook by craven prosecutors like Gentry and Dumanis.

Posted by Maura Larkins | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 10:09 am

Mr. La Bella: Could you please give us some details about your efforts to keep John Moores' name out of the court case over Perigrine's pending bankrupcy and shareholder fraud? Thank you.

Posted by watcher | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 10:09 am

Thank you, Chuck La Bella, for forwarding to the voiceofsandiego.org the endorsement of D.A. Bonnie Dumanis in favor of an opponent to run against City Attorney Mike Aguirre. (I too hope her letter wasn't written on City letterhead. That would be wrong, as they say.) Thanks, Chuck La Bella, buddy of Alan Bersin. When will you be promoting Bersin for some new paid city appointment since the establishment has now found a credible opponent to run against Mike? Thanks, Chuck La Bellla, friend of Padres owner and downtown developer John Moores, for backing Moores and watching him skate while pathetic city councilwoman Valerie Stallings took the rap sola for accepting bribes from Moores on ballpark vote issues. Is no one at the voice embarrassed by this display of one hand washing the other? Are you journalists or a conduit for planted press releases from downtown fixers?

Posted by Fed Up | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 10:11 am

Hey Hey Ho Ho...Sideshow Mike has got to go!!

Posted by Jim | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 10:13 am

It seems to me from La Bella's cut & paste job that the message from Dumanis was an e-mail message not a letter on any letterhead. It seems to have been sent from a personal hotmail account rather than her public e-mail address. The only remaining questions are - Was it sent from a personal computer or a government one? Was it sent during her work hours or personal time? Maybe Aguirre will request IP addresses and the Sainz political machine will try to quash the request. Mr. La Bella, so far your posts in the Cafe seem to be very slightly better than Senator Kehoe's. And while all this nonsense goes on, Rome continues to burn.

Posted by Dukestir Wilkes | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 10:50 am

For shame, Bonnie. For shame. I am no fan, but Mike Aguirre is a welcome break from the usual landed gentry claw at the voters' ranks to keep their minority party in control. Someone with fire is good, but who is this guy? No thanks. Keep your friends in the fascist crowd in the criminal prosecution/establis oppression office. Their basic natures can best be harnessed in the goose-step brigade, not spreading the cover-up services of your office to the stinkiest havens of Republican putrescence.

Posted by Frank In SD | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 10:50 am

Bonnie Dumanis is the one that needs to go. Her in this letter/email that rat is going to bat for Tom Story and Sunroad. She has NO BUSINESS interferring with the CA's office and their prosecution of Story/Sunroad. She should have Nifong inserted into her name. She is a disgrace to this City.

Posted by Billy! Bob!! Henry!!! | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 10:51 am

Am I the only one amused that Bonnie has a Hotmail account? It just seems so appropriate, somehow. This just gives me someone else not to vote for. Once Bonnie jumped on the Sanders axis of virtue bandwagon, I knew I couldn't trust her judgment anymore. As much I deplore Aguirre's persona, I don't want a City Attorney (Bonnie's pet and/or Bernsin) that is in Sanders' pocket of cronies. Sanders already is trying to put all departments under his management. I think some departments (the City Attorney and the Auditor) should be independent of the Mayor's dictates so that a corrupt Mayor (could we ever suffer from one?) wouldn't be able to do even more damage than the current inept administration has managed to do. Right now we depend on the IBA for honesty...I like Trevlin but she works for the Council.

Posted by Leanne1 | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 11:03 am

Will one of you Aguirre supporters please state which part Dumanis was wrong about? Was it the uncharged public accusations of criminal conduct that never happened? Was it the offering criminal immunity to bolster his civil case that never happened? Both of these acts are UNETHICAL, plain and simple, and no one can deny they happened. But you Aguirre supporter (yes, BBH, that's you too), just ignore this and say things like "at least he's shaking up City Hall." Please, people, get a clue. No amount of "shaking up City Hall" can justify such an overtly UNETHICAL elected official. Since when did two wrongs make a right?

Posted by Rock On | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 1:10 pm

Dumanis writes, "...let me know that I may include your name as a supporter of Bill Gentry for City Attorney." What, does she have so much free time these days (cockfight battles, notwithstanding) that she can moonlight as a campaign manager? And I'll ask again -- Does Gentry even live in the city of San Diego?

Posted by TY | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 1:17 pm

Voice of San Diego: I am shocked that you would permit Dumanis to use your Epaper for a campaign letter. It seems that now you must give equal time to all other candidates. I don't know Mr. Gentry other than knowing he works for Dumanis, which frankly doesn't say much for him or her. Recall when Dunanis gathered the Police Chief, the Sheriff (who has no connection to City politics) showed up unannounced and had the gall to attempt to steal a section of the CA'S office. They looked like the three blind mice. Now Dumanis has attempted to recruit "Bar Leaders", whoever they are, to vote against Aguirre. She also named certain city wannabes in her letter that are backing Gentry. Ha! I know the background of one or two of these persons; city politician butt kissers who are as sneaky and unethical as any in this administration.

Posted by Peter | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 1:50 pm

Dumanis has said from the beginning that she would endorse candidates in unusual circumstances. A fellow law enforcment officer who she should be working with but who is so bad that she and no one else can work with him is a matter of great import to her work so it's very clear why she is endorsing Gentry. She obviously cares deeply about law enforcment issues and for that we, the people, should be grateful.

Posted by coper | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 2:09 pm

She's right on about Aguirre. I thought her Nifong commentary awhile back was really about Aguirre (see link: link ). I'm still leaning towards Dan Coffey though.

Posted by LCb | reply to this comment
October 19, 2007 7:19 pm

Bonnie wants the "bar leaders" to endorse a relatively green attorney because......? Oh! because he isn't Michael Aguirre. We know nothing of the leadership skills of Gentry, his ability to act independently or for that matter, his political leanings. Our brilliant D.A. states his record in her office distinguishes him because he has handled two plea bargains for her .OH, WOW.... that is really sad. I sure hope the County Bar doesn't get hooked into this stupidity. If Aguirre is to be replaced, he should be replaced with a well respected, tested, and talented Individual. Not an overly ambitious, Dumanis pawn.

Posted by Messenger | reply to this comment
October 20, 2007 11:36 am

Aguirre supporters are justifiably proud of the fact that their boy Mike is "shaking-up" City Hall just like Senator Joseph McCarthy shook-up Congress in 1950. We are all so much safer now that he is looking out for our interests. He can prosecute evil doers quickly and without the need to get involved in the messy legal process. Trial by press conference. No need to wait for facts, no need to read the law, no need for a judge, no need for a jury (all these people are part of a larger conspiracy against his anyway). All he needs is his magic pointer finger. Everyone he points at is GUILTY of whatever he accuses them of. You go Mike!

Posted by Oldguard | reply to this comment
October 20, 2007 12:25 pm

I find it most amusing that instead of voting for competent (or 'different') city council members, the community voted for Aguirre to be some kind of rebel. The city attorney is not the mayor. Yet he acts like some kind of "Julius Ceaser" who is taking over our republic for the good of the people. I still can't believe that we voted for Donna Frye and Dick Murphy after all the city went through. No matter what they do, they continue getting reelected. No wonder our city is such a mess. It's time to start voting against every incumbent and starting over at city hall; that includes Mr. Aguirre, all council members, and the Mayor himself.

Posted by Amusing | reply to this comment
October 22, 2007 12:11 pm


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