Supervisor candidates Chiesa, Weidman keep it civil

By ADAM ASHTON
aashton@modbee.com

last updated: April 27, 2008 08:03:34 AM

Vito Chiesa and Les Weidman are pouring tens of thousands of dollars and countless hours walking neighborhoods into their contest to replace outgoing Stanislaus County Supervisor Tom Mayfield.

But they're not trying to tear each other down.

Their supporters are playing nice, too, with people on each side praising both candidates. It's not uncommon to see a Turlock yard sporting signs for Weidman and for Chiesa.

"We are blessed to have two really good candidates," said Turlock City Councilman Kurt Spycher, a Chiesa backer.

"Both will do a good job," said Hughson Mayor Ken Moore, who's in Weidman's camp.

But don't mistake the friendliness for a lack of drive.

Each candidate is making his case by walking precincts and meeting voters in District 2, which covers the southeastern portion of the county, including Turlock and Hughson.

Weidman, a Hickman rancher, contends his years leading the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department prepared him for Mayfield's seat. He brings a reputation for building partnerships that get results, such as his efforts to create multiagency task forces that took aim at methamphetamine producers and identity theft.

"That county government experience just really allows me to see where we've been and where we're going," said Weidman, 60.

Chiesa counters that he's a relentless worker with some government experience of his own. He's a former president of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau who has lobbied for reforms on taxes and immigration.

"My work ethic is second to none," said Chiesa, 43. "I want to get involved."

Weidman entered the race with an advantage in name recognition, having won a contested sheriff's race in 1990 and three subsequent unopposed

bids for re-election. He recently served as Gov. Schwarzenegger's point man for public safety, and he worked with Gov. Davis on antiterrorism planning after the Sept. 11 attacks.

"I've always known him to be a very honest person," said Moore, a former county Fire Department deputy chief. Weidman is "very easy to work with and very knowledgeable for the county."

'Both capable and committed'

Weidman and Chiesa are "both capable and committed, and I like them both personally," said Turlock Mayor John Lazar. "But Les' experience in county government, his involvement in state government, give him an advantage."

Weidman also has strong backing from the county's political establishment. Dan Costa, entrepreneur and part owner of 5.11 Tactical, hosted a fund-raiser for Weidman on April 4. Other sponsors included state Sen. Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, Supervisor Jeff Grover, former Supervisor Ray Simon, PMZ Real Estate and the Curtis & Arata law firm.

Weidman and Costa were involved in a 2005 flap at the county Sheriff's Department when 15 deputies and a sheriff's helicopter were used in a 5.11 Tactical photo shoot. Grover was an unpaid member of the company's board of directors at the time. Costa later reimbursed the county for the deputies' time after an outside attorney determined they were improperly asked to attend the photo shoot. Weidman maintained the deputies were off-duty volunteers.

Chiesa, an almond and walnut grower from Hughson, built deep support in the county's farming community.

His backers include some of the county's most prominent ag representatives, such as Duarte Nursery, members of the Martella farming family, Stanislaus Foods executive Tom Cortopassi and former state Agriculture Secretary Bill Lyons.

Chiesa's "been very active in farm issues," said Marie Assali, a county planning commissioner and Hughson farmer. "The farming community in Stanislaus County as a whole would like to see another farmer on the board."

They like what they see in Chiesa, having worked with him over time.

"Vito is an extremely intelligent man," said Spycher, a farmer. "He has real good business sense. I know his character, I know his ethics and his morals. His work ethic is outstanding, too."

Chiesa's work in the county and state farm bureaus has included efforts to repeal special taxes on tractors, attempts to revise the federal estate tax and a push to develop comprehensive immigration reform.