Peace Officers Unit Backs S.F. Dist. Atty. for Attorney General
The 34,000-member Peace Officers Research Assn. of California Tuesday endorsed San Francisco Dist. Atty. Arlo Smith for attorney general.
The organization, the state’s main union of police officers, said Smith has the record on fighting crime and other issues important to its membership, including support of the death penalty.
“From the street officers’ perspective, Arlo Smith, we feel, is the best candidate for attorney general,” said association President Larry Malmberg.
Smith is battling Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner for the Democratic nomination for the state post. Sacramento lawyer Dan Lungren is so far unopposed as the Republican candidate.
One association member, who asked not to be identified, was critical of Reiner, charging that he “plea bargains away all our hard work” once cases go to court.
A recent California Poll showed that Smith--who also has been endorsed by the National Organization for Women--gained 10 points between July and October, with the number of Democrats preferring Smith jumping from 13% to 23%. In the same survey, Reiner’s support by Democrats jumped from 33% in July to 36% in October.
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