Sharp divisions in battle for district attorney

<p>Endorsements in the race for Sonoma County district attorney between two-term incumbent Stephan Passalacqua and former rival Jill Ravitch reveal stark divisions that lay the groundwork for a hotly contested race.</p><p>The split is reflected by Santa Rosa City Council members and Sonoma County supervisors, who are on opposite sides in their endorsement of the candidates.</p><p>With the June 8 election still a half year away, Passalacqua has won endorsements from at least four of five supervisors, the county's largest law enforcement officers association and state Attorney General Jerry Brown.</p><p>Ravitch, a Mendocino County prosecutor who lost a close race against Passalacqua in 2006 and was a longtime Sonoma County prosecutor before that, has the support of all seven Santa Rosa City Council members, two former judges and a number of past and present police officers.</p><p>“The Santa Rosa City Council is seven individuals with very different backgrounds who don't always agree on the affairs of the city, yet have agreed I am the best candidate for the job,” said Ravitch. The 51-year-old prosecutor lives in Sebastopol but works at the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office, where she is third in command.</p><p>Passalacqua downplayed Ravitch's City Council endorsement, saying the top prosecutor's job is a countywide post involving public safety, “not water or parks.”</p><p>“At the end of day, it's up to voters to decide, not city council members,” Passalacqua said. “At the end of the day, it's about what a person brings to the arena.”</p><p>But he cited the importance of the Board of Supervisors, noting its countywide reach, and said voters recognize the accomplishments of his office.</p><p>“I really feel he's led the department well and has worked within the county's criminal justice family,” board Chairman Paul Kelley said. “From my perspective, he's doing a good job.”</p><p>The 46-year-old member of a prominent Sonoma County legal family was first elected in 2002 after 13 years as a lawyer and prosecutor.</p><p>Passalacqua said since he took office, violent crime has dropped, crime prevention programs that address elder abuse have become stronger and he's amassed funding to create a family justice center he hopes will become a national model.</p><p>He has been endorsed by the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Officers Association, which has about 500 members, including jail guards, probation officers, park rangers and 911 dispatchers, as has backing from the organization Crime Victims United.</p><p>All of the county supervisors, except Efren Carrillo, confirmed their official support for Passalacqua. Carrillo did not return calls Thursday or Friday. Passalacqua said he has endorsements from the entire board.</p><p>Meanwhile, Santa Rosa council members appeared solidly behind Ravitch, but stopped short of criticizing the incumbent.</p><p>“I'm just really impressed with Jill and the backing she gets from the legal community,” Councilman Gary Wysocky said. “The fact that all seven of us endorsed her, that was surprising to me. That's a feather in her cap. Although she still has to make her case to the people.”</p><p>Councilman Ernesto Olivares, who spent 30 years as a Santa Rosa police officer before being elected, said Ravitch would bring strong leadership and community outreach that will help confront problems involving gangs and immigration.</p><p>“For me it's a question of can we do things better,” Olivares said. “The answer is yes. I think Jill is going to be able to take us to a higher level.”</p><p>Former county Supervisor Mike Reilly said his peers on the board support Passalacqua because they work with him often and have come to know him as a capable department head. City council members don't share the perspective because they view Passalacqua from a distance, he said.</p><p>“I think he's grown as a manager in the D.A.'s office,” Reilly said. “He hasn't made that one big mistake that cost some D.A.s their jobs. I like Jill, but it's sort of like if it ain't broke ..."</p><p>Ravitch also has gained endorsements from several of the county's most respected criminal defense lawyers, including Chris Andrian and Stephen Turer, who largely stayed on the sidelines during the last race between the two candidates.</p><p>“It's different this time because I've just had it,” said Turer, who charged Passalacqua allows politics to influence prosecutorial decisions and lacks personal trial experience necessary to run the office.</p><p>“I care too much for my profession. I wasn't comfortable sitting back again,” he said.</p><p>Andrian, Santa Rosa Mayor Susan Gorin and Deputy District Attorney Bud McMahon were among the speakers this week at a Santa Rosa fundraiser for Ravitch that drew up to 200 people and raised $20,000. In attendance was Sheriff's Lt. Steve Freitas, who is running uncontested for sheriff in June. He has not announced who he is backing for district attorney, Ravitch said.</p><p>She said her endorsements suggest broad community support that will help her overcome her opponent this time. In 2006, she lost by 1,700 votes out of 115,000 ballots cast.</p><p>Passalacqua said his fundraising was steady. Candidates have until Feb. 1 to report contributions received from July 1 to Dec. 31.</p><p>In 2006, Passalacqua spent $316,000 and Ravitch $116,000 in the three-month race. Both candidates lent themselves significant amounts of money, including $180,000 by Passalacqua and $50,000 by Ravitch.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com.</p>