Last month, a disgruntled voter in Castro Valley tried to cut 15th Congressional District Republican candidate Rudy Peters with a switch blade. The assailant did not succeed and was arrested. But now comes the unkindest cut of all.
Peters says the Contra Costa County Registrar of Voters neglected to include his 250-word ballot statement in the November voters guide sent recently to all registered voters, even though he paid in full for a spot in the election guide.
Contra Costa County Assistant Registrar Scott Konopasek confirmed the office mistakenly excluded Peters for its voter guide despite the candidate paying $677 in August for inclusion in the booklet. In many cases the ballot statement might be the only chance for some candidates to speak directly to voters.
A supplemental edition of the voter guide including Peters’ ballot statement was sent out Wednesday, said Konopasek, who said the office feels embarrassed about the mistake. It’s not clear how much the extra printing and mailing will cost Contra Costa taxpayers.
Voters should be receiving the voter guide in mailboxes this week with the supplemental portion arriving soon after, said Konopasek. The additional instruction given by the registrar to voters to place the supplement into their booklet might actually give Peters more exposure, he added.
But Peters is not taking any solace from the flub. “I’m pissed. I’m devastated,” said Peters “I think it will cost me tremendously.” Based on his experiences at the ballot box, said Peters, he has often relied on the ballot statements contained in the voter guide to make snap decisions because he was to busy to properly study the candidates.
Peters did not pay for a ballot statement in the June primary because of its exorbitant cost. Nonetheless, he finished second in the top two primary to Rep. Eric Swalwell.
He said he took “a lot of flak” for not having ballot statement in the June primary, with some questioning whether his was viable because of the omission from the previous voter guide.
Since the 15th Congressional District is split between Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, Peters spent $10,017 to be included this November in Alameda County’s voter guide.
Peters said he wasn’t necessarily surprised by the mishap. Shortly after paying for the November ballot statement last July, he received a call from Contra Costa County registrar’s office asking him for payment.
He presented his proof of payment and believed the matter was settled until receiving notice this week from supporters in Contra Costa County that his statement was not included in the voter guide. Konopasek also confirmed the exchange that occurred during the summer.
As a first-time candidate, Peters said he can’t understand why the voter guide isn’t free in the first place. It also greatly favors incumbents like his opponent, Swalwell, who can easily absorb the costs of the voter guide, he added. Swalwell’s campaign boasts a war chest of more than $1 million. Peters said he has not raised any money for his campaign.
ebcitizen.com 
Wow! A real political expert. But she does not use her real name.
The expert should tell us just one thing Rep. Swalwell has done for this area.
Having no accomplishments is why politicians like Rep. Swalwell need “professional” campaigns. They stay in a bubble to keep voters away. The expert *WAS* able to talk to Rudy Peters. Noobody can get close to Rep. Swalwell unless they donate a lot of money. His fundraiser in Ashland charged $40 to hear Rep. Swalwell give a speech, but $1000 to actually meet him.
In his 3 Congressional campaigns Rep. Swalwell has collected about $6.9 million, according to the Federal Election Commission. Of that, 23% came from real people who vote for him. Another 35% from real people OUTSIDE the district, and another 35% from organizations and political action committees OUTSIDE the district. The remaining 6% was not accounted for. When Rep. Swalwell first ran for office he said he did not take money from corporate political action committees, but that was then.
And where does all that money go? Mostly to fly around the county and especially to Iowa.
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What is sad are idiots like you that lie, bad mouth good people and continue to prop-up do-nothing politicians like Swalwell.
Swalwell’s record is abysmal. Anybody that cares about the 15th district should take the time to read and understand just how feckless he is.
My feeling is that Peters cares deeply about this country and the area he’s called home for many years. He’s in this to preserve a way of life that many of us see slipping away. I believe his only goal is to help the people of his/our district, not continue a selfish political charade like his opponent.
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This was an intentional act! To surpress a good candidate by not printing the 250 informational. The head of the Coco county voter registration should be held to answer along with Eric Swalwell who is in a dog fight against Rudy Peters! Absolutely horrible!
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The only part of the 15th in Contra Costa County is San Ramon, so I suspect that this will not hurt him a lot in the election. He is a good representative of the Republican Part. 80% of his money is from out of state. Smallwell has 25% of his money from out state.
What we can tell from opensecrets.com is that the real estate folks like to give him money, some $3,000, though his opponent has gotten well over $16,400 from the same groups. Peters has put in his own money, $7,000. Smallwell has not put in a dime of his money.
The reason that Peter’s does not have a chance has nothing to do with the idiots in Contra Costa County. Peters has not raised the money to run a real campaign in Alameda County.
His efforts have all been to get notoriety with the set up switchblade story and now this. I was at the Castro Valley event and met with him. He needs to have someone manage his campaign for him. He is inept at getting folks to want to support him. All you have to do is talk to him, Then you will vote for Smallwell. So sad.
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