VC race sets $ record: Totten new DA, takes all Santa Paula precincts

March 15, 2002
Santa Paula News

Greg Totten’s endorsements and experience beat out Ron Bamieh’s media blitz and high-profile successful prosecutions when the votes were cast for Ventura County District Attorney, ending the most expensive and caustic campaigns ever for the job. In fact, the Totten-Bamieh campaign is the most expensive local contest on record.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesGreg Totten’s endorsements and experience beat out Ron Bamieh’s media blitz and high-profile successful prosecutions when the votes were cast for Ventura County District Attorney, ending the most expensive and caustic campaigns ever for the job. In fact, the Totten-Bamieh campaign is the most expensive local contest on record.Totten, 47, easily upset Bamieh almost 2-1, in spite of the approximately $1.1 million poured in the latter’s campaign by his father, Sam Bamieh, a wealthy Northern California businessman with strong Republican ties. The numbers - Totten got 64% while Bamieh trailed with 35% - surprised even Totten supporters, who although expecting victory thought it would be by a narrower margin. Bamieh didn’t win a single precinct in Santa Paula, and took only 14 precincts - mostly in Oxnard - countywide.Both were vying to replace retiring District Attorney Michael Bradbury, who - without political opposition - has had a stranglehold on the office for 24 years.
Bamieh, 36 and with nine years with the county DA’s office, ran as an outsider challenging the “good old boys” network, while Totten touted his administrative experience. The campaign turned nasty, then ugly, with accusations of Totten mudslinging by Bamieh and Totten saying Bamieh misrepresented his record of prosecutions and slamming Bamieh’s use of a convicted Santa Paula drug dealer for a television endorsement.Totten, whose campaign chest finally grew to about $400,000, topped Bamieh on law enforcement endorsements and management experience.Both men vowed to heal all wounds left by the bruising campaign, although Senior Deputy District Attorney Bamieh reportedly is thinking of leaving the District Attorney’s Office after numerous offers from private firms upon completion of several prosecutions. A graceful letter of thanks to his supporters that expressed support of Totten was printed in a county newspaper on Thursday.Totten, the Chief Deputy District Attorney and Bradbury’s second in command, has vowed an easy transition and unity in the District Attorney’s office where Bamieh, and the supporters he garnered, is welcomed to stay.



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