Countywide : Victims’ Advocate Endorses La Follette

Patti Linebaugh, a leading victims rights advocate since her granddaughter was murdered by Theodore Frank in 1980, has endorsed Marian W. La Follette for the Republican nominationin the 19th State Senate District that stretches from Oxnard to Northridge.

In a statement announcing her endorsement Thursday, Linebaugh strongly criticized La Follette’s chief opponent in the race, Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley), for recently voting to cut the California Supreme Court’s operating budget by 38%.

“Cathie Wright showed contempt for crime victims and voters” by supporting such a proposal, the Camarillo resident said.

Linebaugh’s 2-year-old granddaughter Sue Seitz was raped and strangled to death 12 years ago by Frank, who is on Death Row.

Since her granddaughter’s murder, Linebaugh has been increasingly active in Ventura County politics as a voice for crime victims.

Linebaugh, who could not be reached for comment, said in her statement that Wright’s motive for cutting the court’s budget was simply revenge, because the court upheld the voter-approved Proposition 140 term limits initiative that cut the Legislature’s budget by 38%.

Wright denied the charge, saying all state departments have to cut back because of the state’s budget crisis.

Moreover, she said she will probably end up supporting a less severe cut in the court’s operating budget as the Legislature works out state funding for the next fiscal year.

“This is only the first phase of the budget process,” Wright said. “It’s not a done deal.”

La Follette said she was pleased with Linebaugh’s endorsement and readily agreed with her assessment of Wright’s motivation in cutting the courts budget.

“It shows very poor judgment that she would cut such a high priority service,” she said.

“Our whole law and order system depends on our judicial branch functioning.”

La Follette, Wright and Fillmore Councilman Roger Campbell are competing in the June 2 Republican primary for the seat being vacated by state Sen. Ed Davis of Santa Clarita.

The winner will face Democrat Henry Phillip Star, a Bell Canyon lawyer, in the November election.