Braly’s Backers Criticize Warning From GOP : Politics: Outraged supporters reply to a letter from Republican leaders who told a challenger in the June primary to stop attacks on incumbent Cathie Wright.

Supporters of Assembly candidate Hunt Braly rallied to his defense Thursday with a letter sharply criticizing three state GOP leaders for warning Braly to stop attacking the integrity of his opponent, Assemblywoman Cathie Wright.

“We are active Republicans and are outraged that you have threatened Hunt Braly in his campaign for the Republican nomination in the 37th Assembly District,” said the letter to Assembly GOP Leader Ross Johnson. “The June primary should be an election decided by the Republicans in this area, not a coronation dictated by you from Sacramento.”

The letter was signed by 20 Republican Party activists from Santa Clarita, Ventura County and Santa Barbara County, including Santa Clarita City Councilman Carl Boyer III and two members of the Republican state central committee: Peggy Sadler of Simi Valley and Emily Wullbrandt of Santa Barbara County.

They were responding to a blunt letter accusing Braly of distorting Wright’s record, especially in suggesting that the Simi Valley incumbent was closely aligned with Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco). Braly repeatedly has questioned Wright’s efforts, extensively reported in the media, to intervene with police and judges on behalf of her daughter Victoria, who had faced a jail term after collecting 28 traffic tickets over the years.

That letter, dated Jan. 8, was signed by Johnson, Republican Caucus Chairman Bob Frazee and Paul Woodruff, GOP campaign and elections chairman.

“Your continued use of unfounded inflammatory statements not only jeopardizes your candidacy but damages our Republican Party,” the letter said. “We can only warn you that if you persist, we and other conscientious Republicans will do everything in our power to set the record straight.”

The reply by Braly’s supporters was equally acerbic: “Under our Constitution the June primary is an election. Unless you propose to change our Constitution to prohibit any contests once a legislator is elected, we strongly suggest that you cease your threats.”

Braly is considered the most serious challenger to face Wright since her election in 1980. He is chief aide to state Sen. Ed Davis (R-Valencia), and his race against Wright is expected to be one of the few serious contests in the June Republican primary.

Johnson released a brief statement later Thursday replying to the Braly letter. “Assemblywoman Wright’s record was being unfairly distorted by Mr. Braly,” Johnson said. “Her Republican colleagues in the Legislature simply urged him to tell the truth from now on. That is neither outrageous nor threatening.”