If Kamilos isn't behind attacks on DeMartini, who is?

By CLAUDE DELPHIA

last updated: December 31, 2007 07:26:17 AM

2007 has been a difficult year for the West Side of Stanislaus County. Many here feel we are under attack by the majority on the Board of Supervisors. There's no other way to view what is happening.

After the board-created Crows Landing advisory committee recommended another developer, and despite opposition from the city of Patterson and many members of the public, the board in February approved the 4,800-acre Crows Landing air facility reuse plan proposed by Gerry Kamilos, head of PCCP West Park. The West Park proposal is 3,300 acres larger than the county's request for the proposal. Two supervisors -- board Chairman William O'Brien and Jim DeMartini -- voted against the West Park proposal.

Then, on Nov. 14, the Stanislaus Council of Governments, composed of all five supervisors and council representatives of the nine cities, voted to continue the project by facilitating a request for $26 million from the state infrastructure bond money. This was after nearly 100 residents and officials spoke to oppose the effort. The Newman and Patterson city councils, school districts, health boards and fire protection districts voted to oppose the West Park concept as too large and the train use too detrimental.

Because the fight against the West Park plan is mainly a political one, it is not surprising that DeMartini, the supervisor who represents the West Side and Ceres, is under personal attack. On Christmas Day, West Siders woke to read about the attack on our supervisor in a story in The Bee. The slick video filled with innuendo on YouTube is clearly a professional hit piece.

The Bee reported that Kamilos told DeMartini that he wasn't behind the YouTube piece -- but if he isn't, who is? DeMartini is the most public foe of the West Park project that Kamilos heads. There have been rumors for months that an effort would be made to eliminate DeMartini. Now we see an expensive piece designed to destroy DeMartini's reputation.

The young woman mentioned in the hit piece, a one-time Republican aide accused of stealing DeMartini's identity, is being represented by attorney Mark Geragos of Scott Peterson defense fame. There are very few of us who aren't smart enough to realize there is big money behind hiring a nationally recognized attorney such as Geragos. So again the question is: If not Kamilos, as he protests, then who?

Big money for Geragos and big money for the YouTube video all aimed at the West Side's supervisor. Is there really anyone other than Kamilos who has a major reason to try to damage DeMartini's reputation?

In opposing West Park, DeMartini is representing his West Side constituents just as he should. He is our champion and efforts to damage him only will strengthen our resolve to defeat, or limit, Kamilos' Crows Landing proposal.

Delphia, a Stanislaus County native, is a resident of Patterson, an activist, and vice president of WS-PACE.org, which is opposed to West Park. Write to him at columns@modbee.com.

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