“Mailer”, the text message came in from Lisa.
“Gwaltney?” I replied to my wife, tapping on my phone.
“Yup, you = Brianna’s death” was her response that came across the screen.
I got up from my office chair and called my wife who then read the following, one of many bizarre and baseless attacks issued in a negative campaign mailer that was delivered yesterday from my challenger, John Gwaltney:
“David Bobzien… Failed to deliver funding for DNA testing while students on our campus were being victimized.”
First, the truth. Recognizing the backlog in DNA samples after the 2007 Legislature strengthened genetic marker requirements for criminals (a bill I supported) in early 2008, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department issued a call for public support for funds to clear their backlog. I, along with other Northern Nevada legislators from both parties, and countless members of the community, contributed to the effort. On February 8th, 2008, I wrote and delivered a check for $500 to the fund. As a result of our collective efforts, the Sheriff’s Department met and exceeded their goal of raising $200,000 to clear the backlog.
While I could write a novel-length blog post responding to the numerous baseless attacks my opponent leveled at me in his mail piece, this refutation to one of the more dishonest attacks will suffice.
What is more problematic is John Gwaltney’s shameless exploitation of a young woman’s death for political gain. As is reflected in the current national political campaign, I believe Americans are finally saying, “enough is enough” to fear-based politics that draws on the worst tendencies of people to evoke action. I’ve received countless phone calls this evening from supporters outraged over Gwaltney’s tactics. I would call on him to cease these horrible tactics that bend the truth and inject fear and deceit into our political campaign.
What made this evening particularly painful was John Gwaltney’s despicable allusion to a horrible crime that impacted Nevadans on a variety of levels: from across the community to the fear my family experienced around the crime.
You see, my wife and I both work day jobs. Most days, she parks her vehicle in the same neighborhood as the house from which Brianna was taken. During the first weeks after Brianna’s disappearance, Lisa teamed up with other female co-workers, escorting one another to their vehicles after the end of the work day, to make sure each was safe. If I was out at a meeting, Lisa would call me or text me to let me know she had made it home ok. The killer is still out there, we are still on our guard, and we long to see him brought to justice.
John- did you have to do this? Do you really want this job that bad that you would stoop this low?
If you deplore these kinds of campaign tactics, call John Gwaltney and let him know: 775-323-3999 or 775-329-1992.
Hi David.
This diskhole Gwaltney has turned a fax machine on permanently on that number you listed….just a squeeek when I tried to call it several times….
How bout his home number?
David,
I concur with your position on this one for sure. Sure seems like a desperate attempt to get press and throw stones at the same time. One who lives in a glass house should not throw stones.
I think everyone knows that you are on top of things David. And that mailer that Gwaltney sent out is unprofessional. Reno Passport recommends that you take the high road. He makes his campaign weaker with such attacks. Keep up the great work David.
Steve White
Publisher
Reno Passport Magazine
http://www.renopassport.com
(775) 329-1992 fax (775) 323-3999 DrGwalt49@aol.com
The good news is: a sign of total desperation.
The bad news is: vicious attacks, even 100% untrue, really turn people off to politics.
And we need level-headed, innovative, positive and forward thinking elected officials like you, now more than ever.
What is publishing his address supposed to do? The phone number is borderline, but if he’s using it as his campaign number then fine. But the address is irresponsible.
Blog post tonight….I have heard the fear in people’s voices over Brianna’s death. This is irresponsible Willie Horton kind of tactics. Desperation is no excuse.
Wow. Our district has to see through this. You have done nothing but stand strong for us and I am so proud to have you as my assemblyman. I can’t believe how dirty this guy is. I feel kind of sick that someone would stoop so low.
I think Mr Gwaltney just cleared up any doubts as to whether or not he’s fit for this job.
David,
Kudos to you for calling this what it is. You have a lot of support and are a stellar legislator who knows what his constituents wants, and it isn’t this.
Hang in there!
Posting the phone number seems to be okay, since it’s
a public contact one already posted here:
http://www.doe.nv.gov/Board_Members.html
Candidates (of whatever party) who resort to this may possibly be operating on premises that a critical mass of voters are not so smart and therefore can be manipulated.
Then, there are those candidates who actually do face to face (knocking on doors) and who operate, as a result of this type of direct contact, on the premise that most voters are in fact fairly sharp and can see through a lot of the bull.
Here’s a copy of the letter I just wrote to the RGJ editors:
I am disappointed with this paper’s decision to endorse John Gwaltney over David Bobzien in the Assembly District 24 race, for a number of reasons. However, Gwaltney has just made the argument against his endorsement watertight. A mailer was recently delivered by the Gwaltney campaign which reads:
“David Bobzien… Failed to deliver funding for DNA testing while students on our campus were being victimized.”
In other words, Gwaltney is implying that Bobzien is somehow at fault in the Brianna Denison matter. This is apparently the act of a desperate man.
As explained by Bobzien:
“Recognizing the backlog in DNA samples after the 2007 Legislature strengthened genetic marker requirements for criminals (a bill I supported) in early 2008, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department issued a call for public support for funds to clear their backlog. … On February 8th, 2008, I wrote and delivered a check for $500 to the fund. As a result of our collective efforts, the Sheriff’s Department met and exceeded their goal of raising $200,000 to clear the backlog.”
It is time to send a message that selfish, reckless and thoughtless politics like Gwaltney’s have no place in our community.
Sincerely,
Thomas L. Qualls
Sorry, David, for the terrible politics here. Good for you for being proactive. Fear is the tactic used by the desperate.
David… your first term as an assemblyman was a great success, you proved you can do a great job representing your district. This is just a desperate tactic by a candidate who can not win on his merits, nor the issues. But isn’t this the whole point of this election year… rejecting the dishonorable and moving forward? It seems to me your opponent is stuck in the divisive politics of the past to win at all costs, voters will not be fooled by this tactic. The only question remaining is “by how many percentage points will you clobber him with?”