(ALAMEDA COUNTY) The District Attorney's Office must be connected to the community.
That was one of many messages Alameda County District Attorney Candidate Gopal Krishan debated with Pamela Price, who was recalled from the very post less than two years ago.
The very fact that a recalled candidate has the chance to waste voters' time alone is another story to tell, so let's remain focused on the fact that she was given a chance to tout herself against Gopal, a family law attorney specializing in divorce and immigration. Interim District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson chose to sit the debater out.
(Photo: Alameda County District Attorney Candiate Copal Krishan debates against recalled DA Pam Price last week)
While I did not attend the event, OpGov.news did. The AI-assisted platform covered the Cal State University event in Hayward last week, which began Krishan pointing out a lack of public knowledge on their own safety must end.
"They have no social media presence," Krishan said of the present DA office. "Look at the young people here, who don't even know what the district attorney does."
Gopal added that youth often believe "hey, think the mayor is more important, the council member is more important." "This has to change," Krishan said, adding, "I will implement the technology."
Though Price attempted to outline what she would do, many questions put her on the defensive rather than on the offensive.
Take, for example, this question.
(Photo: Alameda County DA candidate debate last week at Cal State University)
"Can you address any specific mistakes that you may have had during your term, uh, and how will you prevent them should you win re-election?"
Her answer.
"I will point out that I never lied to the public," Price said of one mistake that contributed to her recall for the post that she won by 53% of the vote in 2024.
"One of the things that we were held accountable for was a backlog. And that backlog existed before I became the district attorney," Price said, adding she attempted to work with officials to reduce the backlog and to set up a special team. "The deputies were resistant to doing that."
Price presumes that her experience being better can create change, but
Gopal disagrees.
When faced with the question of why he is a better candidate than any other candidate, specifically given his lack of law-enforcement legal counsel experience, the question did not intimidate him.
As a matter of fact, too much experience in one type of law could become detrimental, according to Krishan.
"You lose your individuality, you lose sight," Krishand said. "So as a private practitioner, I know what is needed over there, don't have that boxed view, and I don't have any tunnel view.
But this is what really sets him apart, he said boldly.
"I need what the public wants," Krishan said. "And the public wants justice. the public safety, accountability, and transparency, which is missing."The debate, which lasted nearly two hours, addressed many topics, which the AI-assisted platform accurately captured, as read here.
"Pamela Price, recalled by over 60% of voters, is seeking re-election, framing the recall as an outcome of 'disinformation and misinformation' and comparing it to the election of Donald Trump," according to the platform.
Video Credit to Kqed.org and Diya Tv
There's more.
(Photo: Recalled Alameda County District Attorney Pam Price defends herself in political debate last week)
"Price controversially denied a Berkeley Scanner editor entry to a press conference, justifying it by claiming the outlet was a "blog" lacking editorial control and publishing "inaccurate" and "irresponsible" reporting, implying it contributed to a "misperception" about her administration and her recall," according to the platform.
While the platform highlighted distinct differences between the candidates, it also found common ground.
"Both candidates agreed on the need to prosecute federal agents violating state law within the county, though Krishnan acknowledged potential initial helplessness," according to the platform.
And, "both candidates expressed reservations about mandatory minimums in their absolute sense but had differing nuanced approaches to applying them, particularly for repeat offenders or violent crimes," the platform reports.
Ultimately, the candidates are polar opposites.
"The city council meeting, structured as a debate between Pamela Price and Gopal Krishnan (referred to as Mr. Christian in the transcript) for the District Attorney position, revealed starkly contrasting approaches and philosophies," the platform reports.
As aforementioned, the real-time reporter who watched the video debate from afar points out that when a candidate running for District Attorney of any county has to spend time discussing how she failed, that alone makes her a weak candidate.
One question where the candidates were asked about the organized crime Gopal took a extreme stand and highlighted how the mathematics of crime is very profitable for the criminals and want to change the equation.
I understand and believe in second chances, but it takes time to regain public trust. What has Price done since she was told to leave?
It's time to ask how repentant she really is and to continue putting important Alameda County concerns before all candidates.
With each passing day, the DA election draws near, which is why the public deserves to know exactly who will best protect the community from growing crime.
OpGov.news is following all local, county, and state elections to ensure residents walk into the ballot box confidently informed.
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