Emotions are high in the final days of the 37th Congressional special election campaign. As voters prepare to cast their ballots on Tuesday, State Senator Jenny Oropeza and Assemblymember Laura Richardson have exchanged harsh words and accusations over the final weekend before election day.
RICHARDSON CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION
On Saturday, Richardson called on the FBI and US Attorney to investigate independent campaign expenditures made by some Indian Tribes.
In her letter, Richardson wrote:
“Jenny Oropeza has violated the law by accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funding in exchange for her promise of legislative support to benefit special interests. Furthermore, Ms. Oropeza’s campaign is coordinating campaign activities with an independent expenditure effort that has spent $413,996 on her behalf in direct violation of federal campaign laws.”
Richardson campaign manager, Derek Humphrey, added: “Jenny Oropeza would fit right into Washington’s culture of corruption. This last minute attempt to buy this Congressional Election with money exchanged for political support is an affront to the citizens of the 37 th Congressional District who deserve a member of Congress who will represent their interests and not the special interests.”
OROPEZA ATTACKED IN RICHARDSON MAILERS
Another controversy that erupted over the weekend was the fight over a Richardson mailer that accused Oropeza of missing Assembly votes during a period of time when she was diagnosed and recovering from cancer.
Here is an excerpt from a Press-Telegram story that ran on Saturday. The article was written by Gene Maddaus:
“She’s saying I’m an irresponsible legislator for having cancer,” Oropeza said between campaign events Saturday. “I am deeply offended.”
Richardson’s campaign manager, Derek Humphrey, said he had “absolutely no comment” on the mailer. Two other mailers also targeted Oropeza for taking pay raises and claiming to have a bachelor’s degree from Cal State Long Beach, when, in fact, she had failed to get credit for two classes, leaving her without a diploma.
That charge was first made by Oropeza’s Republican opponent in last year’s Senate race. Since then, Oropeza said she has started the process of filing paperwork to receive the diploma.
Oropeza accused Richardson’s camp of “grasping at straws.”
“If you feel like you are strong and your message is prevailing, you don’t feel the need to attack the other person,” Oropeza said. “Strategically, usually it means they don’t think they can win without beating someone up.”
Oropeza had not issued any negative mailers as of Saturday, and said she would not because “that’s not my style.”