Ad watch: Sacramento candidate says her opponent is lying about Democratic endorsements
Sacramento City Council candidate Karina Talamantes is criticizing her opponent Michael Lynch over a mailer she claims contains lies about his endorsements.
Text: “Attention Democrats! You have an important choice to make in the June 7 election. Vote for our Democratic Champions. Gavin Newsom for Governor, Eleni Kounalakis for Lt. Governor, Michael Lynch for Sacramento City Council.” The back shows a photo of three firefighters standing and smiling in front of a firetruck.
Here is our analysis.
Analysis:
Both candidates are Democrats. Talamantes is endorsed by the Democratic Party of Sacramento County and the Sacramento Area Firefighters Local 522, the union that represents local firefighters.
Lynch is endorsed by the Harry S. Truman Democratic Alliance and the Sacramento Democratic Alliance, according to his website. The Truman group also endorsed Talamantes, supporting both candidates.
Lynch was endorsed by Rick Martinez, retired chief of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District. Firefighter unions have not endorsed Lynch. Neither Gov. Newsom nor Kounalakis has endorsed him.
Talamantes held a press conference Thursday to criticize the mailers.
“It’s deeply troubling for a candidate to lie about endorsements or at the very least make incorrect insinuations in order to improve their electoral chances,” Talamantes said during the press conference. “These underhanded tactics by candidates show a lack of integrity.”
Tracie Stafford, chair of Democratic Party of Sacramento County, also criticized the mailers.
“It is outrageous that anyone would put out any type of materials or even have come out of their mouth that they have been endorsed by the party,” Stafford said during the press conference.
Representatives from the Sacramento Central Labor Council and the firefighter union also spoke against the mailers.
Lynch said the mailers did not contain endorsements of either group.
“In no way did I say I was endorsed by the Democratic Party or the firefighters,” Lynch said. “I support firefighters, which is why I put them on the flyer. We feel we are the best Democratic in this race to best represent the interest of the people in South Natomas. I don’t feel it’s misleading at all. Anybody can go to my website and see who I’m endorsed by. I also think its shocking to assume that voters wont be able to do their own background checks or to investigate a candidate. Voters are smart.”
The local election will be held Tuesday. If no candidate receives at least 50.01% of the vote, there will be a November runoff. District 3 includes South Natomas, Northgate/Gardenland, and part of North Natomas.
This story was originally published June 4, 2022 at 12:53 PM.
