Let's admit it. This election has been one of the worst for negative campaigning in Sonoma County. The gloves came off, and it got pretty nasty out there.

In our survey last week, half of the respondents agreed that the mailers in this election were "more negative and more misleading" than in previous years. And 75 percent agreed that candidates themselves need to take a stronger stand against such ads, whether they benefit from them or not.

Here are my picks for the five most deceptive and unfair mailers in this election. I'll make like Letterman and start with the last first.)

No. 5.  The Developers' Team - (To see this one, click here 20081104190051.pdf) This is a card attacking "The Team" - a slate of the more conservative candidates for the Santa Rosa City Council. This mailer was put out by "A Coalition for a Better Sonoma County" the group funded primarily by labor and environmental groups.

The slate attacks the "Team" as being supported by the developers, although it doesn't give one example of a pro-developer vote  - or any vote for that matter - by the incumbents (Jane Bender, John Sawyer and Carol Dean) that the coalition disagrees with. Nastiest remark: Under the remarks about Ernie Oliveras it states that he "hasn't done much about gang prevention" and is known for "Being a part of the Police Department's failed leadership on gangs." Ouch. Where did that come from? Before you try to smear someone's career, you might give an example.

No. 4 - On the Hook - This is the one we talked about in today's editorial. (To see it, click here  20081104190217.pdf) In this one, incumbent Valerie Brown attacks her opponent Will Pier for his suggestion that the county should look into taking back control of Sutter Medical Center, which used to be the county-operated Community Hospital. The ad contends Pier "wants taxpayers on the hook for millions to take over Sutter." All Pier has done is suggest that it be explored. He is not the first to make this suggestion and hardly deserved to be hung out to dry on this one.

No. 3 - Not Green, Not Smart - This is an anti-Measure Q mailer sent out by North Bay Citizens for Effective Transportation, No on Q, a Corte Madera-based group. (To see it, click here. measureq0081104201200.pdf )It's essentially a letter from former Sonoma County Supervisor Ernie Carpenter and Santa Rosa conservationist Joan Vilms. In it they say, "If Measure Q passes, powerful forces will propel massive growth and urbanization from Petaluma to Cloverdale under the rubric of 'transit villages.'" Powerful forces? Massive growth? Sounds like a job for Superman. All this from a train that, as they argue, no one will ride. Pretty dramatic - and misleading - talk.

This is getting to long, so I'll give my final two in my next blog entry

- Paul Gullixson