District Attorney Mike Hestrin slams Jan Harnik for likeness usage, quote in campaign mailer
Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin is upset about a mailer being sent-out by Palm Desert Councilwoman Jan Harnik in her campaign for county supervisor.
Hestrin says he wants Harnik to immediately remove his name, photo and any quotes of his she’s using on her campaign.
The ad is referring to the Manuel Perez’s support when he was an assemblyman of “AB-109,” California’s prison re-alignment that resulted in some inmates being released.
The DA said he has not endorsed Harnik and had no idea she was using his quote on the campaign mailer.
KESQ & CBS Local 2 reached out to the Harnik campaign. We have been told they are working on a statement but point out that Hestrin has been a “frequent critic of the AB-109 law.”
A spokesperson for the Perez campaign responded in a statement:
“It’s disappointing, but not surprising that Jan Harnik would send out a mail piece attacking Supervisor Manuel Perez using quotes and photos from trusted leaders who are not supporting her. Faking endorsements is pretty rare in the modern era, but Jan has run one of the ugliest campaigns anyone in the Coachella Valley can remember. We’re confident that voters will see through these political stunts and reject her campaign.”
Hestrin’s full statement asking for Harnik to remove his name, photo, and quotes on the mailer is below:
It has been brought to my attention that Palm Desert Councilmember Jan Harnik used my photo and attributed a quote to me on a campaign mailer that was mailed out to voters on behalf of her campaign for County Supervisor.
I did not give my permission to Councilmember Harnik, or to any member of her campaign – nor did I have prior knowledge that Councilmember Harnik was planning to use my image and quote me on her campaign mailer.
I have not endorsed Councilmember Harnik’s candidacy for County Supervisor. I am calling on Councilmember Harnik and her campaign committee to immediately remove my name, photo/image and any quotes attributed to me from all of her campaign materials – including print, website, Facebook and any other vehicle she is using on behalf of her campaign.
I thank Councilmember Harnik and her campaign committee for their immediate attention to this matter. – Riverside County DA Mike Hestrin
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