Temecula Resident Receives Major Endorsement in DA's Race

Riverside County's largest law enforcement union announced today that it's backing veteran Riverside County prosecutor Mike Hestrin, a Temecula resident, for district attorney.

The 3,400-member Riverside Sheriffs' Association -- which represents deputies, probation officers and District Attorney's Office investigators -- endorsed Hestrin, who is seeking to unseat his boss, one-term incumbent Paul Zellerbach.

"RSA's vote reflects the need for new leadership at the District Attorney's Office," said RSA President Robert Masson. "At a critical time when the residents of Riverside county often fear for the safety of their loved ones and the protection of their property, RSA recognizes the need for a DA in office who prioritizes public safety and who will provide the law enforcement community with the support, tools and partnership needed to accomplish our core mission -- protecting our community."

While rank-and-file sheriff's personnel line up behind Hestrin, Sheriff Stan Sniff has endorsed Zellerbach for a second term. Sniff was not immediately available to comment on RSA's choice.

The public safety union's endorsement comes just a week after the Hemet Police Officers' Association threw its support behind Hestrin.

The 42-year-old deputy district attorney, who has handled some of the county's most high-profile death penalty cases over the last five years, is running on a platform of strengthening the agency's "core mission" of making certain offenders face the consequences of their crimes, reversing what he says is cratering morale in the office and ending "favoritism" to determine who gets what position.

Zellerbach, 60, considers his 2 1/2 years as district attorney a success. The former judge told City News Service that the court system has been disburdened of a backlog of criminal and civil cases since he took office, conviction rates -- and plea agreements -- are up, and the agency is operating in the black.