FRANK GUZMAN & THE DA's OFFICE RACE

Frank Guzman is one of Mike Ramo's challengers. Interesting guy. While a capable criminal defense trial attorney, he changes political parties from the last time he ran for District Attorney (and lost to Ramos). Frank Guzman went from registered Democrat some 7 years ago to registered Republican and got the endorsement of the California Republican Assembly, the most conservative group within the Republican Party (after he could not get the endorsement of organized labor and came in third in the race behind Ramos and Stout). When Frank Guzman talked to me a couple of years ago when we were co-counseling on a case (Guzman brought me in, by the way for my expertise in a federal RICO case), the subject of running again was brought up by me--Guzman told me that the DDA's he had been up against (major cases with three strike allegations) were incompetent and that he was done with running for DA. Now he wants to run and lead them? When I sat down and was interviewed by the Sun's editorial board last week, Guzman told them only minutes before I sat down to be interviewed, that he had nothing but the highest respect for the Deputy District Attorneys. It should be interesting (if he gets that far). I have been on record as having the highest respect for the professional staff--my complaints have been solely registered with Mike Ramos' leadership (or lack thereof).