Naomi Patridge mistakenly claims Supervisor Rich Gordon’s endorsement

Naomi Patridge’s ads also list Congresswoman Anna Eshoo as having endorsed her, but this did not happen—Eshoo endorsed only Mike Ferreira, Jim Grady and Steve Skinner. Perhaps citing either Gordon or Eshoo could be interpretted charitably as a mistake, but to cite both of these folks as backing her when they have not represents a clear pattern of misrepresentation and calls Patridge’s other endorsements into question, I would think. ken

[EDITOR’S UPDATE: King is correct that Patridge has not received a formal letter of endorsement from Eshoo, as Grady, Ferreira, and Skinner had received. However, after this comment was posted, the Congresswoman’s office told Coastsider that she will allow Patridge to continue to claim her endorsement. See my post below. — Barry Parr]

Isn’t there some type of process or oversight for endorsements? I would assume that, much like campaign contributions, a candidate would get an endorsement in writing. Especially a candidate who runs a full page ad focusing on those very endorsements!

Steve Skinner, Mike Ferreira and Jim Grady were all notified by letter from the Congresswoman. I cannot imagine it would work any other way or else anyone could claim someone endorsed them and there would be no proof. Have to have it in writing. ken

Comment 4 by Barry Parr  on  Nov 05  at  11:23am  •  All my comments • 

Although Eshoo has formally endorsed Grady, Skinner, and Ferreira, Eshoo recalls a conversation with Naomi Patridge in the spring about the endorsement, according to Christine Stavem in Congresswoman Eshoo’s office. Eshoo will allow Patridge to continue to use her endorsement in her advertising.

Stavem manages a formal endorsement process for Eshoo, who, she says, rarely makes endorsements before the end of the filing period. It appears that Naomi didn’t go through the formal process, as did the other three candidates who received formal, written endorsements.

I called Stavem on Friday, and she was unable to reach Eshoo until Saturday morning. I’ve avoided posting on this until I had the word from Eshoo.

Ken,

Any thoughts on apologizing or would that not fit your style? Maybe do some research next time.

Naomi didn’t follow up by getting it in writing, as is customary for big time endorsements. Why, for example, do you think that Steve Skinner, a newbie to politics, would get it and Naomi wouldn’t? That doesn’t indicate very good judgment or attention to detail. Remember the story we’re blogging under is about Rich Gordon’s non-endorsement. In this case, Naomi was unable to prove Eshoo endorsed her when asked by Barry Parr. It took Barry a special effort to get the busy congresswoman to respond, and only after her political person confirmed that she just knew about the three formally approved endorsements to Skinner, Grady and Ferreira. So, there’s nothing to apologize for, bginna. How come you don’t use your regular surname, btw?

I have to agree that someone running for city council should certainly have major endorsements locked down and in writing. Add to that the “mis-communication” with Gordon and its not an impressive skill set for a politician. It seems as if Ken and Barry spent more time verifying endorsements than Ms. Patridge. Again, not so much a case of misrepresentation, as sloppy follow-up and record-keeping.

Comment 8 by Barry Parr  on  Nov 07  at  1:42am  •  All my comments • 

I’m not sure anyone got a formal written confirmation from Gordon. Bonnie McClung didn’t, and Steve Skinner got an email.

My take on this mess is that we’d all be better off if the endorsements went away. But given that the last-minute ads in the Review were all about endorsements, it’s unlikely anytime soon.