Golden State Killer prosecutor opens up fundraising lead in Sacramento DA’s race
Sacramento County prosecutor Thien Ho has opened a wide lead in fundraising in his race against Alana Mathews to succeed District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, pulling in nearly twice as much in contributions in 2021, newly released reports show.
Ho’s campaign raised more than $519,000 in 2021, compared to more than $263,000 raised by Mathews last year, according to campaign finance reports filed with county elections officials late Monday.
Ho reported having nearly $419,000 in cash on hand, compared to about $177,000 for Mathews.
Ho’s fundraising included numerous contributions from colleagues inside the DA’s office, as well as a $2,000 contribution from Schubert’s DA campaign account.
Schubert, who is running for California attorney general as an independent, has yet to formally endorse Ho in the race.
Ho, who has prosecuted a number of high-profile cases, including the case that sent Golden State Killer Joseph James DeAngelo to prison for life, also drew support from area DAs, defense attorneys, business leaders and law enforcement unions.
His contributions included $4,900 from developer Angelo K. Tsakopoulos’ business group, $9,700 from the California Association of Highway Patrolmen political action committee, $4,900 from the Peace Officers Research Association of California PAC and $9,800 from the Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs Association PAC.
“I am humbled and honored by the outpouring of support from a diverse cross section of our community who value public safety - concerned citizens, community leaders, law enforcement leaders, local business owners, workers, educators and families,” Ho said Monday night.
Mathews, a former Sacramento deputy district attorney, said she believes accepting contributions from law enforcement unions is a conflict of interest “and so I haven’t accepted those contributions.”
“I think we are growing, just building off grass roots support, and I have not focused on those who can write up big dollar amounts, but those who are affected by crime.... But I think my message is still resonating,” she said. “And I think I’m still viable because the residents of Sacramento County are looking for and deserve change.”
Mathews’ contributors include defense attorneys, state workers and small business owners, as well as former Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo and Quinn Delaney of Oakland, founder of the Akonadi Foundation that says it seeks “to eliminate structural racism and create a racially just society.”
She also received contributions from former Sacramento sheriff’s candidate Milo Fitch and former DA candidate Noah Phillips.
Both candidates also have been rolling out endorsements in the race, with Ho announcing last week that he has won the backing of state Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, and Mathews being endorsed by the Sacramento County Young Democrats and the Elect Black Women PAC.
In the race to succeed Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones, sheriff’s Capt. Jim Barnes reported raising more than $261,000 last year, with about $224,000 in cash on hand.
Barnes, who has been endorsed by Jones, may face a challenge from former Sacramento sheriff’s captain and Assemblyman Jim Cooper, D-Sacramento.
Cooper, who narrowly lost a 2010 bid for sheriff to Jones, has yet to formally announce that he would again run for sheriff, but his “Jim Cooper for Sheriff 2022” campaign fund reported raising more than $109,000 last year and had a cash balance of more than $593,000.