Anatomy of the Prosecutor’s Firing

An employee with a fifteen year record of excellence "gets fired in many or most organizations" for one angry e-mail? Maybe at the News-Press. This has never been the case anywhere I've worked.

Thank you, Barney, for bringing some clarity to this mess.

I can't help but think if Mr. Lynn had acted more professionally this matter would not have escalated as it has.

Perhaps Mr. Lynn will eventually release the e-mail message he sent and then we can judge for ourselves whether he should have been canned...

We need a picture of Dudley looking sad. More will be revealed.

What I think is really sad about all of this is; Ms. Bransem assumed that their would be problems when they both came in on, Monday. Why didn't she just keep her nose out of it and let him come to work. Dudly and Bransem are both in this together. Who are they kidding? Do they think the people of Santa Barbara are STUPID. How CHILDISH of Ms. Bransem to assume something so stupied. Perhpaps Ms. Bransem should be fired for jumping to so many conculsions!!! It will be a lonely world for Ms. Dudley -- how would you like to work where the public cannot trust you and your assistant. I doubt if you were to run again you would win.. Your principles are very shallow to allow someone to be fired after 15 years of service and disgrace them by not allowing them to come to work on their normal work day. Everyone will have to very careful that they do not cross either of you -- Guss what?? TERMINATION You are very pathic.. Josh Lynn did not deserve this kind of treatment. You really did not win by a LANDSLIDE!!!!

Wow. You sure make the News-Press look good. This is awful reporting. It is riddled with Hearst-ian opinion based reporting. Clearly, as the company man, Barney is spinning a yarn that continues to paint a bad picture of Lynn.

I'm not sure why you think Lynn's spoken words to the media was "popping-off", not can I figure out what your definition of "nasty" is. Nothing he said or did could be filed under the proper definition of "nasty".

It is a sad day when those that get paid to report the news can't do so with any kind of accuracy. You are reporting opinions that you have created and calling them facts. This is not what the news sources are for. You should be avoiding words or phrases that are emotionally loaded.

Lynn did not pop-off. And it doesn't matter whether he was given the day paid or not. Normally, when you get fired, you get paid for vacation days left anyway. If it was for organization purposes, why take his materials? Block him from emails?

The Independent needs to try and curb the bias. It makes their paper feel "nasty." (FYI, that means repugnant or offensive to the senses).

As I've said on the other articles relating to this issue--which bears repeating since there may be new readers--what is disturbing is the "we-don't-have-to-talk-about-it" attitude of Bramsen and Dudley. Yes, they can hide behind policy and say it would violate that policy if they told us why he was fired, (just as we *still* don't know what happened with the Roger Aceves/Salud Carbajal incident a few weeks ago and the issue seems to have gone away) but what everyone needs to remember is that these people work for *us* and that *we* pay their salaries as they make decisions which affect our lives.

You may think that just because we are in America that all is well and good, but these seemingly innocuous examples of secretive behavior are not only elitist, but consistent with despotic regimes.

The only government we all should demand is open and transparent government.

Getting back to the Acevas/Carbajal/parking lot attendant controversy: when are we going to find out what happened there?...or has that simply gone by the wayside? They too work on your tax dollar.

I hold out hope that we are evolving above our lower brain stems!! Really..firing a successful prosecutor here in Santa Barbara after 15 years?!? Ms. Dudley...You can do better than this.

Your careful reading, "SBGuardian," seems to overlook the branding atop of this article which says:

>> Columns >> On The Beat

As I'm sure you know, Columnists usually provide a more obvious viewpoint to their writings. Barney had been doing so for quite a while.

And I'm sure I know what a "Beat" is ... and it's supposed to be reporting news.

Leave the opinions out of my news. If i want to read their opinions I'll check out their blogs. It's trash.

Let's organize and RECALL JOYCE DUDLEY!

Join the Recall Joyce Dudley fan page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Recall-...

Totally outrageous article. . .

This opinion piece gives Dudley every benefit of the doubt and suspects Lynn of the worst. Not to mention, it doesn't bother to point out that the Independent picked Dudley even though she made clear that she might fire Lynn if she won. What kind of EVIL DA vetting process does the Independent subscribe to?

Most fifteen year well respected employees are not fired for sending an email expressing frustration to their colleagues.

It's a travesty Lynn was fired.

No defensible reason has been provided and that's ALL THAT MATTERS. Lynn did nothing wrong and was fired by a couple of conniving, cruel, power hungry, bad mannered women.

If the truth supported Dudley and Bremsen's claims, it would have leaked by now. This whole thing is sickening.

Disappointing piece of writing, Barney - the First Amendment doesn't just protect you, a journalist. Lynn (for whom I did not vote) should not have been sacked - after 15 of service and in the middle of preparating to try a major case, no less - for what you call "popping off" or sending what might have been, at most, a catty e-mail. It is disturbing and outrageous to listen to Dudley (for whom I now regret having voted) and her hand-puppet, Bramsen, self-righteously refusing to reveal their motives and reasons for firing him and very disappointing you are not vehemently calling them to account for failing to have done so. I am with SBGuardian, silverfox and Lars on this one. Hope Lynn is either re-hired, unlikely as that may be, or that he sues the pants off these clowns and this increasingly dysfunctional and emabarassing town.

I have been amazed at the fierce loyalty Lynn enjoys from his supporters despite what I consider to be outrageous behavior.

Let me say that if I were in Dudley's shoes, I would have wanted to sit down with Bramsen for a thorough briefing on both the facts and the moods of the organization before having to tell anyone my plans for its future. Giving Lynn a day off, seems a good way to accomplish this.

I don't know either of the parties, other than from what I have read in the Sound and the Independent, but I am appalled at the viciousness of Lynn's attacks on Dudley. If he really means the nasty things he has said about Dudley, there seems to be no way this could ever have worked out.

Finally, I want to distance myself from the opinions expressed here by someone else who shares my first name.

>> "This opinion piece gives Dudley every benefit of the doubt and suspects Lynn of the worst."

I do not see any evidence for this. It reports what is known about Lynn and his actions. On the other hands, the members of the Lynn support group very consistently gives Lynn every benefit of the doubt and suspects Bramsen and Dudley of the worst.

>> "the Independent picked Dudley even though she made clear that she might fire Lynn if she won."

What's wrong with not wanting to pledge never to fire an employee no matter what they might do in the future, especially after that person has already made it clear that he will do his best to drag your name in the mud ?

>> "It's a travesty Lynn was fired. No defensible reason has been provided and that's ALL THAT MATTERS."

It is an unfortunate fact that an employer cannot publicly debate the background of a termination without facing libel lawsuits. I am happy to see that Dudley and Bramsen both have enough maturity to not argue their detailed opinions about Mr Lynn's personality in public. Ms Bramsen is the responsible manager of a workgroup in the civil service, and Mr Lynn is an at-will employee. What do you not understand about that ?

>> "Lynn did nothing wrong"

Except calling several members of the press to challenge his employer's authority in public? If I did that to any of the people I have worked for in the past, I would not have stayed employed for any length of time after that, either.

And let's not forget that during the election campaign he apparently created a website for the sole purpose of accusing his political opponent (and nor future boss) of selling the public's safety to achieve a less demanding work schedule.

>> "and was fired by a couple of conniving, cruel, power hungry, bad mannered women."

Misanthropic, are we ?

>> "This whole thing is sickening."

Finally, something we agree on.

what i find troubling about barney's article is how clearly the independent is in the palm of the newly elected da, ms. dudley. when the election endorsement was made i figured it was all about the fact that joyce loves to run to the press and squawk all about her current case, which of course the members of the press just love...i recall how dawn hobbs and joyce had a particularly cozy relationship in the past...never mind that blabbing to the press is unprofessional, self-promoting, narcissistic behavior that threatens the constitutional rights of the accused. these things never seem to bother ms. dudly in her quest for publicity. and now, when josh lynn turns the tables and uses the press to promote his agenda, he is branded as a troublemaker. difference with josh is that he's talking about HIMSELF, not stirring up public support for the conviction of a citizen charged with a crime. barney's piece shows that the independent would rather suck up to ms. dudley to continue to ensure that they get the scoop, rather than report about this affair in a complete and unbiased manner. i would have thought that with all the bs that happened to reporters at the news press they - reporters in general and the independent as a whole - would be a little more serious about getting at the truth, and a whole lot less interested in playing footsies with the new top dog of law enforcement. if barney, or anyone else for that matter doesn't believe that joyce dudly is the mastermind of josh lynn's swift termination from the da's office, he doesn't know her very well. shame on barney, and shame on the independent.

Newspaper editors have always had their opinions and endorsements. Newspapers are private businesses.

SBJustice, Barney has been writing a local opinion column for years. A "column" in a newspaper is understood to be the opinion of the writer. The whole structure of the column as a "what if?" clearly marks it as an opinion piece and not news.

What is misleading is the headline, "Anatomy of ..." There is no dissection here since there is almost no information, as Barney points out. Disappointing.

I agree, ljp93105, except that I would characterize this a bit more precisely as misogyny:

>> "and was fired by a couple of conniving, cruel, power hungry, bad mannered women."

That last word just has the tone of being spit out of the mouth like a bad taste.

Thanks for providing us with some background into Lynn's firing Barney.

It would be interesting to see a recording of the media interviews Lynn gave over the weekend and a copy of his office-wide email. It wouldn't be the first time someone regretted hitting that "enter" key.

" ... what is disturbing is the "we-don't-have-to-talk-about-it" attitude of Bramsen and Dudley ..."
-- billclausen

Although I had similar thoughts regarding the Aceves/Carbajal incident, I must disagree on this case. There is a big difference between "we don't have to talk about it" versus "we can't legally talk about it".

Ironically, as an "at will" management employee, Lynn has the right to personal privacy and not having the dirty laundry of his termination aired in public. You and I have the same right at out workplace.

However, had Lynn (or you and I for that matter) been fired for committing a crime (as an example) then details of the firings could become public. But that would be because of the crime, not because the public has any right to knowledge of his personal workplace affairs.

From a different perspective, making public the details of Lynn's firing might be a violation of his personal privacy rights (Lynn was not in an elected position). That could open up a lawsuit against the County and is probably the last thing we need to be spending scarce tax-payer dollars on right now.

In summary, its difficult to see how Bramsen could have provided any more details in her press release than she did.

Polytrix and elections bring out the worst in people. You see it in high school, you see it in our government, obviously in the D.A.'s office. I mean really, who gets mad getting handed a day off from work? How much corruption do you get from an ounce of power?
Here's where medicinal marijuana comes in and chills you out to rethink your options. Instead, one has a drink and gets all emotional and pissed off. Choose your sides.

What possible benefit was it for Lynn to have made the decision to pursue a campaign based on intentional misrepresentation and lacking in integrity? The campaign would have just been one in a series of many we’ve witnessed over the years and he could have simply focused on whatever substantive issues were actually involved in the race. What possible purpose did Lynn’s overzealous attempt to lambaste his opponent serve? He was soundly defeated, and his defeat was likely based on the disgust generated from the sleazy manner in which he chose to pursue one of the more critical positions serving the public trust. We’ve all witnessed concession speeches by unsuccessful candidates who have been involved in highly emotional and critically important national elections, despite the bitterness and heat of battle during the campaign. Almost all have manned-up, stepped up to the microphone and in front of the cameras, sucked in their pride and offered congratulations to their successful opponent. Some have even gone the extra mile and asked their former supporters to focus their support on the candidate who prevailed, pledging to do whatever is asked of them to ensure their opponent’s successful transition. However, Lynn’s behavior was far from admirable. Having lost, and having been soundly defeated, Lynn made the decision to go out of his way to generate further tension and discourse because he lacks the emotional maturity to do otherwise. It is not in his nature to do anything other than challenge, protest, whine, disparage, and go out fighting. He had no intention of remaining in the DA’s office. There wasn’t any possibility Lynn would return to serve, accept, or follow directives or assignments generated from his former opponent. He’d rather have taken a job cleaning cat boxes. Instead of bowing out gracefully or simply acknowledging and accepting his thrashing and quietly resigning his position in anticipation of hooking up with his future boss’s thriving firm, he intentional set in motion a series of media events that would most assuredly result in leaving his mark and stain on an office he supposedly served tirelessly. Did he have such little respect for those fellow prosecutors and DA staff who dedicated the better part of the past 8 – 9 months supporting him? Lynn created the BS that is generating all the hype and he did so intentionally and with the same callous disregard he used during his campaign.

How about someone posting Lynn's email and let us judge for ourselves if this was worth a firing?

Would your determination be from the perspective of your cubicle, cash register, computer, etc., far from those who would be forced to continue to work with the malcontent? While the exercise you suggest may satisfy your individual need-to-know, what possible utility would your assessment offer? If, on the other hand, you will be one of the poor souls sentenced to work with the guy for the next several years, please share your thoughts after you secure a copy of the email.

"How about someone posting Lynn's email and let us judge for ourselves if this was worth a firing?"
-- Gordo

Although I agree the email would make interesting reading, it by itself might not provide the big picture. The public would be reading the email with no context.

To illustrate how important context is, what if there had been an agreement between Ann Bramsen (Lynn's boss) and Josh Lynn that he stay low-key while the DA's office went through its leadership transition? In that context, Lynn's "nasty remarks" to the media over the weekend (as described by Barney) plus his office-wide email would certainly be a betrayal of trust in the least, and a disregard of an agreement/order at worst which would be grounds for dismissal. Had this been the case, a reading of Lynn's email would not reveal all of Bramsen's rationale for dismissal.

As I said, this is just an example and may not have happened at all. The point is that context is everything. My dad would simply say, "know all the facts" before judging.

Barney Brantingham reports that there is a Lynn e-mail broadcast to D.A. office employees. I doubt those employees would want to be a source and provide that email because they too could be subject to disciplinary action (including termination) for leaking the e-mail.

So it is up to Lynn. Lynn must refute the existence of this reported damaging e-mail. If the e-mail exists, perhaps Lynn could provide the e-mail for all to see. Clear things up. Unlike criminal cases, and once something gets out to the public, you are guilty until proven innocent. The Independent could have reporter Chris Meahger interview Lynn.

Your column gives a strong impression that you are just expressing what your management has told you to write.
It is not an intelligent analysis of the facts.

I am so sorry I supported you when you were treated unfairly by the News-Press.

Thank you sbresident1. My sentiments exactly. I supported Barney and the rest of the SBNP follk because Wendy McCaw was such a vindictive tyrant. Now, sadly Barney seems to be aligning with just such a shallow, evil woman. How soon we forget...I too am sorry to have blindly backed Barney and the others who were systemacally exiled at the whim of a tyrant. Live and learn.

News stories, editorials, columns. There's a difference. I enjoyed your column, Barney. Thank you.

Only in Santa Barbara, is it even conceivable that using the word "women" is taken to be somehow derogatory.

Seriously, Nitz, you need to get out of town a bit more, or at least lay off the hard stuff at breakfast.

Looks like the Independent is losing fans left and right on this one.

In what dictionary does the definition of independent mean doing exactly what your boss tells you to do?

For the record, defending Lynn has nothing to do with loyalty. I didn't even vote. It's the injustice of the whole thing that makes my blood boil.

There's no plausible explanation for firing one of your best DA's the day after the election unless you're a vengeful narrow minded narcissist without the slightest bit of concern for anybody but yourself.

I think if Dudley has any honor or integrity she'd insist he be rehired.

What's with the Barney haters? I loved reading his stuff even when it was in the news press. These accusations are baseless, and not funny like mine.

Everybody likes Barney and will still like him despite the fact that he's got a crush on Dudley. Maybe they dated back in the day.

No haters here.

I so look forward to reading about the law-suite and the Bankrutcy of the Santa Barbara Prosecuters Office.
SUE the pants off your former boss, Lynn!

"Everybody likes Barney and will still like him despite the fact that he's got a crush on Dudley. Maybe they dated back in the day."

And as the following musical video proves, Barney loves all of you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsKO_r...

Okay, okay, okay already. That big guy standing at the soda machine is waiting for you to get more Big Gulp cups and straws, there’s no more bagel dogs, and the pump out at island 7 isn’t working. You’re gonna’ get fired if you don’t get back to work. This blog stuff is really going to make it hard for you to move from nights to the day shift.

Barney, you state in your column that you know about this so-called email. Who was your source?

Dudley's honesty is at question in this situation because she cannot have it both ways. If Dudley is claiming that (A) she did not order Bramsen to fire Lynn and that the firing has nothing to do with the campaign; and (B) perhaps most importantly that she, Dudley, cannot talk about the details of the firing because of personnel employment laws, then how is it that details of a so-called "email" which was the reason for the firing is or are made known to a select few but not to the public?

Barney I've been a long-time loyal reader of your columns.

I think you should rely upon your journalistic ethics and help the public understand this issue by not playing favorities with Dudley. Sher is not exceptional by any measure and is simply a run-of-the-mill machine politico which is why she won.

By the way Barney you say "principals" and I would say "principles" in describing the two primary players (Dudley and Lynn) in this unfortunate, unnecessary and incredibly stupid political controversy.

The only reason this happened is that Josh Lynn is a SORE LOSER and acted like a total CRY BABY and exhibited DISRESPECTFUL and CHILD LIKE behavior unbecoming of an ADA. As a result HE WAS FIRED, just like anyone else would have been in this situation. And why is everyone blaming Joyce? Did you actually read the article? BRAMSEN fired him - NOT Joyce. She hasn't even been sworn in yet!

Mr. Lynn ran a negative, mudslinging smear campaign. Did he expect to be welcomed back with open arms after that? At least Ms. Dudley had the integrity to keep it positive. She won the election fair and square based on her accomplishments and her impeccable record. She's put a lot more bad guys in jail than Josh Lynn has. Get your facts straight people!

Let's put some known facts in chronological order:

1. Dudley begins moving into Stanley's old office the day after the elections;
2. Bramsen tells Lynn not to come into work on Monday;
3. Lynn's County computer is locked before Monday;
4. Media reports surface over the weekend that Lynn is on paid administrative leave until Wednesday;
5. Bramsen fires Lynn on Tuesday;
6. Dudley holds presser on Thursday to say she did not order the firing of Lynn but that it was all Bramsen's decision; and,
7. Dudley campaign reports a late multi-thousand dollar cash contribution from the Chumash on the same day the Chumash announce they will get a liquor expansion approval.

HMMMMM. Very Interesting course of events I'd say.

Oh and keep in mind that is the top law enforcement agency in the County.

Wow this is impressive. I'm glad we are a small County where things like this don't really matter.

Funny how Dudley supporters like magnoliaswingset can't just be happy with Dudley winning.

For some reason they're so darn mean spirited, they try to support her completely indefensible firing of a dedicated 15 year DA just because he said some negative stuff about her during the election -- something that happens during every election.

Nobody said Dudley didn't win the election fair and square, but Lynn's firing was completely UNFAIR and hopefully he'll win a massive legal settlement and teach you people a lesson.

Why does a public official hold a press conference for the purpose of announcing something that they claim they didn't do?

Why would it be necessary for Dudley to hold the presser to announce that she did not order the firing of Lynn?

Me thinks someone is lying is through their teeth.

A person who has nothing to hide doesn't go around denying they didn't do something. LOL

Dudley has not even mentioned hiring back Lynn.

Unless she hires him back, nobody will trust her, except a few of her most ardent supporters (aka Eckermann).

Josh Lynn continues to drag Ms. Dudley's name through the mud even after the voters have spoken and he has lost the election. Her press conference was a response to that - to announce, yet again, that his accusations aren't true.

The Josh Lynn show is over! He needs to concede promptly so that Joyce Dudley and the DA's office can get back to doing what they've proven they're good at - putting criminals in jail.

And , once again (Lars), Ms. Dudley DID NOT fire Mr. Lynn. Ms. Bramsen DID. If Ms. Dudley intended to fire Mr. Lynn then she could have waited till Tuesday, after she is sworn in. There is NO WAY Ms. Bramsen would have gone through all of this at Ms. Dudley's request when Ms. Dudley isn't her boss yet! She could have waited a week and let Ms. Dudley do it herself. If you have evidence to the contrary, please let me know. Otherwise, stop making this claim.

Clearly Mr. Lynn doesn't have the interests of the people of Santa Barbara in mind if he is planning to sue the DA's office - that will only impede their ability to fight crime and keep Santa Barbara safe. Wouldn't that be great, Lars?

Based on the chronology of events, Dudley ordered Bramsen to fire Lynn on Friday because that is when Lynn was locked out of the County's computer system.

When I was growing up in post-Watergate years, I'd often ask my Dad why a person like Nixon could have ever been elected to the presdiency.

My Dad would answer that it was a combination of Nixon's deceit coupled with naive followers who looked the other way to ignore the atrocities.

Dudley is beginning to look like a Richard Nixon type person who keeps her own "enemies list."

Magnoliaswingset,

You have the facts wrong.

Lynn was fired by Bremsen, who ADMITTED consulting Dudley, her soon to be boss PRIOR to firing Lynn.

It makes no difference that Bremsen herself did the deed. Dudley allowed it to happen, obviously in a failed attempt to shield herself from the PR nightmare that has followed.

Everybody I've spoken to, including Dudley supporters, are incensed by Lynn's firing, and now wish they hadn't voted for Dudley in the first place.

Lynn did nothing wrong. He's has the right to freedom of speech just like you me.

Wake up. You've been had.

I am not totally certain that the Board of Supervisors has the legal authority to swear-in Dudley before January since the June election was never legally nor properly noticed as a special election to fill a vacancy.

The Board has authority to appoint an acting DA but the DA election results haven't even been officially certified to add another layer of doubt as to whether Dudley can legally be sworn-in.

Why the rush? Opps I forget, Carbajal is under direct orders by the political machine to make sure Dudley is sworn-in.

What a shameful abuse of authority.

A DA under a dark cloud of known dishonesty being sworn into office under dubious legal grounds.

I have word that CEO Michael Brown approved $56,000 for the champagne and food to hold a ceremony for Joyce Dudley.

And until today I never realized how cheesey and tacky Judge Ochoa looks as a sitting superior court judge.

Well, we have really come down a notch among other California counties, it certainly happened today.

The whole circus today involving the swearing-in of Dudley has been insulting to the great people of Santa Barbara County.

Anybody who "celebrates" Dudley's swearing-in is also celebrating the unjust firing of much better DA, Josh Lynn.

Boycott, Boycott, Boycott!!!!

And if you see Dudley, let her know how unhappy you folks are that she took such spiteful, childish revenge on Josh Lynn, just because he "dared" run again the "machine's" chosen one.

Below is the email that is the basis for Dudley firing Josh Lynn:
"To those of you wishing me well and asking others where I am, I write this to say howdy. I have been told by Ann Bramsen, apparently from County Counsel's contact with Joyce, not to return to work and to remain suspended. I believe they are calling it involuntary administrative leave. No reason has been given to me for this treatment. Thank you for all of your kind thoughts. Feel free to call me (sic) cell phone as always.

- Joshua F. Lynn"

@ magnoliaswingset

-------"He needs to concede "--------- .... what?

--------"There is NO WAY Ms. Bramsen would have gone through all of this at Ms. Dudley's request when Ms. Dudley isn't her boss yet!" -----------

uh, it's a little thing called MOTIVATION. Prosecutors use this to determine if the suspect had a reason to commit a crime. BRAMSEN's motive would be to secure a nice job with DUDLEY taking over .... which she did. How convenient.

As the email came to light (see above) and the comments he made to the media are recorded .... it is pretty evident that he made no "nasty" remarks and didn't act like a "cry baby" or a "sore loser".

----------"Josh Lynn is a SORE LOSER and acted like a total CRY BABY and exhibited DISRESPECTFUL and CHILD LIKE behavior unbecoming of an ADA. As a result HE WAS FIRED"---------

Hmmmmm .... he did none of that. Please explain yourself. You called out people for not presenting evidence, but then you're making all of these outrageous claims .... with no evidence. Dudley was involved in the firing. that is a fact. Bramsen consulted her first. So she was at least partly behind the act. And she had essentially vowed to fire him if she won.

Of course the email was nothing.

We all know Lynn was steamrolled.

There will be an investigation and lawsuit.

Those responsible will be held accountable.

Unfortunately, these things take time.

Lars,

Initially I was not in favor of a civil law suit.

But with the new relevations I have changed my mind and I want to see a law suit.

Civil law procedures call for discovery and the public needs to see everything.

Meanwhile I think the Board swearing-in of Dudley is a sham.

Have a wonderful evening everyone !!!

The recent events at the DA's office are unfortunate at best.
I worked closely with the DA's Office for nearly 24 years. I do not know Mr. Lynn. I do know Joyce Dudley. I remember how she often championed the rights of victims, in particular, women and children. That, at a time when they often did not get the full support of the legal system.

I find it more than a little disturbing to read some of the incredibly acrid comments. It seems that the internet has allowed so many people to vent their ill considered ideas. This rhetorical hyperbole has escalated and flooded all manner of reporting, discussion, and fostered emotional thinking. We now have writers, pundits of all viewpoints spraying their venom in various forms of media from Twitter to You Tube to cable networks.

Frankly its more than disgusting, it is an era of ego driven, money driven people, that suggests thinking and listening and respect are passe.

Many if not most of you should be ashamed. But the idea of shame seems to have left along with listening to other people. Do not jump to conclusions, yes many times suspicions are correct but they can often be incorrect. Rather than admit mistakes, I see many people invest in convoluted logic (or no logic) to defend a position or idea that has been demonstrated to be false, only because it was their idea.

I know many of the older members of the DA's office and I have great respect for them. I also know a few older members of the Public Defenders Office, men and women in Law Enforcement, workers in substance abuse programs, and mental health workers who really care about the work they do. This also includes Judges, (I've known many excellent judges).

I admonish people to listen carefully, do not disregard, or take on faith what people say...but most of all do not jump to conclusions and simply spout off to make you feel important.
Lets give Joyce Dudley a chance to organize the DA's office. If Josh Lynn wants to continue to make his mark as an attorney then opportunity will provide him ample issues to litigate or try.

Thank you,

Paul A. Tonkin (Tony)

I am gonna love it when Dudley begins to treat the media as nobodies which is already happening, LOL

I Love it ... all of these media idiots thinking they were doing her a favor by not reporting about her because she promised them something more ... are now left to lurch, LOL !!!!

I Love it !!!!!!!

I'm glad I am a veteran of these types of situations, LOL

I think the big story in the DA race is how easily Dudley manipulated the local media to her advantage, LMAOOO

Mr. Tonkin,

Excuse me, Sir? We should be ashamed that we're defending a 15 year DA fired for no reason whatsoever other than political vengeance?

You condon Lynn's wrongful termination and brush him off by suggesting that all he has to do is "litigate," yet we're the bad guys? Something smells really fishy around here. . .

If Dudley had taken the high road after she won the election and made peace with Lynn none of this would be an issue. Instead she took the lowest road possible and has lost the trust of at least half the County of Santa Barbara before even taking office.

I'm sure Dudley helped a lot of women and children in her career, and that's a great thing, but it has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL to do with the fact that she at a minimum condoned Lynn's unjust termination when we all know she could have stopped it.

Gee Barney, I guess you've come full circle. Wendy will be calling you soon for coffee.

Barney I am terribly disappointed in you after all your years of a highly regarded newspaper man, you allow yourself to be lowered to the lowest of the political machines hacks to mislead you.

That is shameful my good friend.

Breaking News Flash:

I am being told that DA Joyce Dudley has issued an internal staff email in which she has approved of DA staff to use their County-owned computers and while on County time to respond to public commentthat is critical of Mrs. Dudley.