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Tanaka in video screen grab.
Candidate Paul Tanaka has finally emerged just a little from the shadows he slipped into after finishing a distant second in the June primary election for sheriff. Tanaka has posted a short YouTube video telling people to ignore any negative reports they hear about him, and touting his record as mayor of Gardena and in law enforcement. (He left the sheriff's department in 2013 amid criticism of his management and a federal investigation into jail abuses, in part during Tanaka's watch.) The 56-year-old also gave a phone interview to Rick Orlov at the Daily News. Until now, Tanaka hasn't been seen or heard from since Jim McDonnell finished with 49% of the primary vote, just missing outright election. Tanaka got 15% of the vote, then closed his campaign office in Torrance and stopped communicating with the media. Now, he says, there's a new headquarters in El Monte and a new approach, but still an unorthodox campaign if the intention is to get votes.
From Orlov's story:
“I am absolutely campaigning,” Tanaka insisted in a telephone interview this past week. “I do have a campaign. It is a different type of campaign. Sometimes you need a change in the team makeup. I felt we needed to make some adjustments, and that’s what we have done.”
The changes are stark.No campaign manager or aides. No active Web page, relying instead on Facebook. No plans for advertising. There are no debates for the runoff, unlike the series of confrontations held in the primary.
His campaign advertising since the June primary is a YouTube video and assurances on his Facebook page that he remains in the race.
“We are continuing our efforts to raise funds and, at the same time, I am attending as many community functions and accepting invitations to speak at meetings.”
KPCC did a story last week on Tanaka's campaign and noted there was to be an event this past weekend.
In Orlov's story, Tanaka says, "I actually had very little to do with all the areas of controversy in the jails. That was outside my area. When I was in charge of the jails, we didn’t have the same problems.”
