ACLU Sacramento County District Attorney's Election Mailer Avoids Direct Endorsement, But Tilts Toward Noah Phillips

May 22, 2018 |  

In a mailer distributed by the Northern California branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, the long-established civil rights organization offered their views on the type of district attorney they believe would best represent Sacramento County.

The four-page glossy piece emphasizes their philosophy that a district attorney should "stand up for our community" and hold law enforcement "accountable when they shoot and kill unarmed people of color."

Although the mailer does not offer an endorsement or even cite candidate names, the inference for Sacramento County voters is intuitively clear. The mailer points to several criticisms leveled at incumbent Sacramento County District Attorney Ann Marie Schubert. 

As a first-term incumbent, Schubert is being challenged by Sacramento County Deputy District Attorney Noah Phillips in the June 5 primary. The winner of that contest will become the county's next DA. 

Schubert has been criticized by several civil rights groups for what they characterize as the failure of her office to investigate thoroughly, and when necessary, prosecute law enforcement officers. This claim was amplified by civil rights groups such as Black Lives Matter following the March 2018 shooting of Stephon Clark.

While the mailer does not offer any endorsement, it does contain a website link outlining where Phillips and Schubert stand on several issues. The website shows several questions posted to the two candidates on a host of issues ranging from bail reform to addressing police misconduct.

Not surprisingly, Phillips responded to all 12 questions and Schubert did not respond. 

Even though the mailer focused on the race for DA, it also addressed in part the race for Sheriff. However, the mailer did not direct readers to a website for that contest as it had done for the DA's race. 

The mailer and a sample page of the website, VoteforDA.org/Sacramento can be viewed in the video posted below.