The 388th Family Court Race - Nastiest Race Ever

I've covered politics for a long time in this town. I've seen some pretty dirty and nasty stuff.

Usually involving races in the valley and usually in a race involving Norma Chavez.

But I can't remember any campaign for a judicial seat that is as bad as the one for thee 388th Family Court. Mostly because judicial candidates are held to a higher standard.

The incumbent is Judge Laura Strathmann and her opponent is Marlene Gonzalez. Obviously the challengers frequently attack the incumbent. Nothing wrong with that. That is how races are won. You go after one's record.

But its the way Gonzalez and her supporters do it. There is a lot of rage and vitriol in their attacks on Strathmann - and stuff that just straight up crosses the line.

For example, the Gonzalez campaign has an entire FB page devoted to Strathmann where they post all kinds of stuff that is just really awful. A recent post is pretty creepy. Someone posted a picture of Strathmann and her kids. Did the candidate herself do it?

No.

But should she be discouraging that kind of stuff from her supporters?

Absolutely.

Seriously, who allows an entire FB page devoted to their opponent to pop up like that? Who does that?

I've seen some other stuff that is just pretty damn terrible. Sexual remarks. Why women do that to other women is beyond me, they have enough problems with being sexualized in the work place by men, why other women use that as their weapon of choice is beyond me.

And of course there's the Caballeros that have been making it a point to attack Strathmann. And that one is 100% personal. Caballero is the courthouse bully and when something doesn't go her way she throws a tantrum.

Well her sister lost custody of her kids and it was in Strathmann's court. I guess Caballero thinks that there should be a separate system of the law that applies to her family.

But there are actually a lot of really interesting issues that need to be fleshed out in this race now that it has gotten my attention.

I'll be talking about them in a few blog posts.

Stay tuned.