Councilman hits Fargo in Sacramento mayor's race; switches support to Johnson

Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo, facing a June 3 primary challenge from former professional basketball player Kevin Johnson, is finding herself under fire from a city councilman who says he is switching his support from Fargo to Johnson.

Robbie Waters, a former Sacramento County Sheriff who was elected to the Sacramento City Council in 1994, pounded Fargo in a Friday statement, saying the mayor “has not stepped up to condemn” the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local #447, an organization that is backing Fargo’s campaign and that has taken aim at Johnson.

“I was an early supporter of Mayor Fargo, and I expected to be with her until Election Day.  But I am extremely upset by the negative, despicable and disgraceful smear campaign being run by her allies, the Plumbers and Pipefitters union Local #447.  As a result, I can no longer stand with her,” said Waters.

Several weeks ago the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local #447 distributed a grainy mailer detailing financial and sexual-related allegations against Johnson. The union has also launched a Web site targeting Johnson. Fargo, for her part, has maintained silence on the union’s offensive.

Waters also criticized Fargo asking the Sacramento Police Department to reopen a 2007 case in which a 17-year-old girl accused Johnson of touch her inappropriately. Fargo made the request this week after the Sacramento Bee reported that Johnson had offered to pay a Phoenix girl $230,000 to keep her accusations that Johnson molested her private. Fargo has said the request was not politically motivated.

“Having spent 28 years in law enforcement, I see the Mayor’s move as a slap in the face to the men and women who put their lives on the line every day,” said Waters.

With just over a week until the June 3 primary, the Johnson campaign in recent weeks has been slamming Fargo for her silence on the union attacks and the request to reopen the case.

Dale Howard, the campaign manager for Fargo, pointed to a new poll out Friday showing Fargo with an edge over Johnson and said the rollout of today’s endorsement was a sign of desperation on the part of the Johnson campaign.

“I think they got up and saw the poll…just like everyone else did, and they saw that they are 7 points behind and are trying to change the story.”