INDIO – Hoping voters will take the bait, Jan Harnik, a Republican candidate seeking the Riverside County Fourth District Supervisor’s seat, is dangling before voters fake and misleading information via a mailer, according to Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin.
Hestrin, who was prominently featured on a mail piece paid for by Harnik’s campaign last week, released the following statement, about the fake information.
Mike Hestrin
“It has been brought to my attention that Palm Desert Councilmember Jan Harnik used my photo and attributed a quote to me on a campaign mailer that was mailed out to voters on behalf of her campaign for County Supervisor.
“I did not give my permission to Councilmember Harnik, or to any member of her campaign – nor did I have prior knowledge that Councilmember Harnik was planning to use my image and quote me on her campaign mailer.
The mailer using Hestrin’s photo and comment
“I have not endorsed Councilmember Harnik’s candidacy for County Supervisor. I am calling on Councilmember Harnik and her campaign committee to immediately remove my name, photo/image and any quotes attributed to me from all of her campaign materials – including print, website, Facebook and any other vehicle she is using on behalf of her campaign.
“I thank Councilmember Harnik and her campaign committee for their immediate attention to this matter.”
Harnik did not a return a phone call, text message or email request for comment.
She is seeking the seat currently held by Supervisor V. Manuel “Manny” Perez. He was appointed last year to fill a vacancy.
This is at least the second controversial – and some argue misleading and fake — mailer Harnik’s campaign has released.
Earlier she released a mailer that alleged Perez “voted to release murderers and other dangerous criminals from prison,” is unprecedented in the Coachella Valley, according to longtime politicos. The mailer further claims “Manuel Perez’s misguided policies released cop killers and rapists from prison.”
The ad fails to mention that in 2012, California was under court order to reduce prison overcrowding.
