Former DA and Asst. DA endorse Darby for DA
Former Tulare County District Attorney Will Richmond and former Assistant Tulare County District Attorney Don Gallian both announced their endorsement for 2018 District Attorney candidate Matt Darby.
Former Tulare County District Attorney Will Richmond and former Assistant Tulare County District Attorney Don Gallian both announced their endorsement for 2018 District Attorney candidate Matt Darby.
Richmond, who served as the elected district attorney of Tulare County from 1978 to 1987, said Darby will provide the citizens of Tulare County with a new era.
“Matt is a leader who builds relationships,” Richmond said. “Matt is a leader who prosecutes. His desire and ability to lead from the front will make him a champion for the citizens of Tulare County.”
Richmond was the last district attorney in Tulare County placed in office by a vote of the people. His three successors, including the current incumbent, Tim Ward, obtained their positions through political appointment.
On this point, Richmond further expressed, “It is time that the cycle of politically-appointed district attorneys comes to an end.”
As for Gallian, his 30-year tenure with the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office began in 1982 until his retirement in 2011. Gallian, who was the assistant district attorney — second only to the district attorney — served under several including Richmond, Gerald Sevier and Phillip Cline.
Gallian, who supervised both Darby and the current incumbent, declared in his endorsement letter, “When the incumbent took over the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office it was disheartening to learn that he removed several highly-qualified supervising attorneys in order to strengthen his political position as district attorney, regardless of the harm that it would cause the district attorney’s office.”
Gallian further remarked, “With crime on the rise and Sacramento making it more and more difficult to keep our community safe, personal politics needs to take a backseat,” he said. “You can rest assured that Matt will fight with all he has to keep his children and yours safe.”