Editorial: Graves is the clear choice for Contra Costa District Attorney

Paul Graves

By Allen Payton, Publisher & Editor

In the race for District Attorney there is one candidate who has the experience to be the top prosecutor we need in Contra Costa County. That’s Senior Deputy District Attorney Paul Graves.

Unlike his current boss, Interim D.A. Diana Becton, who was appointed on a 3-2 vote of the Board of Supervisors, last year, Graves has 22 years of experience prosecuting crime in our county. She has never prosecuted a single case. Yes, Becton served for 30 years as a judge, but that’s not the same thing.

Also, Graves was the first candidate to declare and was willing to run against his former boss, Mark Peterson, who had not yet resigned following a controversy regarding lack of disclosure of loans to himself from his campaign funds.

Becton only entered the appointment process after Peterson’s resignation, which doesn’t show me a serious interest or commitment to the position.

Although accused of being part of the problem, Graves was not part of Peterson’s inner circle. He’s running to restore integrity to the office. Becton on the other hand, admitted to plagiarizing large portions of her application for the position. Yet, three supervisors still voted to appoint her.

The third candidate in the race, businessman and attorney Lawrence Strauss, is opposed to the death penalty – even for cop killers. That to me is an immediate disqualification. If you’re going to be the top prosecutor in the county, you need to be willing to follow and enforce all laws in our state, whether you agree with them or not.

Another thing to look at is who is backing the candidates. Graves has the support of all the Deputy District Attorneys, as well as all of the police officer associations, in the county. Those who enforce the law know Graves is the one candidate who will do the same.

Becton’s backers include the ultraliberal, former San Francisco D.A. and now U.S. Senator Kamala Harris and worse, the soft-on-crime billionaire George Soros. Why are they interfering in our county’s law enforcement? Do we really want to model our D.A.’s office after San Francisco’s? Of course not.

Worst of all, Becton is missing too many days from the office for a job that pays her more than $250,000 per year.

We need a prosecutor who will restore leadership and integrity to the Contra Costa D.A.’s office. Voting for Paul Graves will accomplish that.


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Paul Graves for DA


7 Comments to “Editorial: Graves is the clear choice for Contra Costa District Attorney”

  1. Deborah Glenn says:

    Once again, thank you to the Antioch Herald for your candidate endorsements that indicate how any decent person should vote: the EXACT OPPOSITE of AH’s racist, bigoted POV!

    • Publisher says:

      Ms. Glenn,
      Thank you for reading the Herald and taking the time to comment.

      But, please point out anything that I wrote in my editorial endorsement that is racist or bigoted. You can’t. Because there is nothing.
      My editorial, just like that of the Times, is based on the experience, views and actions of the candidates, as well as those who are supporting them, and are attempting to buy this election. Period.

      Did you tell the Times’ editorial staff that they’re racist and bigoted because they, too endorsed Graves over Becton? I doubt it. In fact theirs was much more hard hitting against her than mine is. – https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2018/04/11/editorial-pick-the-prosecutor-not-the-plagiarist-for-district-attorney-2/

      It’s unfortunate that some people – like you – who can’t win a discussion or debate on the merits of their arguments, or back up their reasons for voting for a candidate with a valid argument, resort to making vile, baseless attacks against those with whom they disagree when debating and discussing an issue.

      Furthermore, what’s this “once again” accusation? I’ve endorsed white, African American and Hispanic candidates for various offices over the years. So, I have no idea to what you’re referring, nor do you.

      Seriously, you need to raise your level of discussion and debate, and keep it out of the gutter.
      Allen Payton, Publisher & Editor

  2. Carol says:

    Reading through the lines, You just gave me the reasons why I will be voting for Ms. Becton on election day!

    • Publisher says:

      Carol,
      Thank you for reading the Herald and taking the time to comment.
      But what to what lines do you refer? There are none to read between. My endorsement editorial is straight forward and based in fact.
      Either you agree with my endorsement or you don’t. Obviously you don’t which is your prerogative.
      Allen Payton, Publisher & Editor

  3. Arne says:

    Paul Graves has the experience to be our next District Attorney and has the votes from our family.

  4. Stanley Cordoba says:

    I agree with you Alan. Calling an opposing viewpoint “racist”without any argument proving it is “racist” in itself. Vote for Paul Graves.

  5. Dale says:

    We voted for Paul for many of the reasons indicated by this writing. He is the most qualified and we believe will be by far better for Contra Costa County!

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