Hochman Closing Out Campaign Strong

In about a month – barring an upset of epic proportions – Nathan Hochman will become the new Los Angeles County District Attorney.

Obviously, the official vote is Tuesday but Hochman’s lead over the egregious incumbent George Gascon has been consistently in the two-to-one range, pretty much since the beginning of time (or at least since the March primary.)

Hochman has racked up 500 local officials and political groups as endorsers, has out fund-raised Gascon by six-to-one, and has not had to appear in abominably cringey videos on TikTok to make his case to voters.   

When asked what the funniest part of the campaign has been, Hochman pointed to those vids, noting that whatever political consultant told George that they were a good idea should be fired.

But the race of DA is clearly more serious than an old man dancing for votes – the community has come to realize that over the four years of Gascon’s disastrous tenure.  Crime is up, public confidence in the justice system is down, and it seems to most people that even if criminals are caught Gascon has gone, shall we say, easy on them.  He has definitely gone easy on people who have already been convicted of crimes, at least – he has worked to free prisoners (and is rumored to be trying to ramp up the process for his last month in office) like two-time killer Shanice Dyer.   

Hochman said the toughest part of the campaign has been talking to the families of crime victims who feel they have been re-victimized by Gascon’s cruel dismissiveness of their concerns.

“It’s tragic, hearing story after story of families going to the DA for help and he’s heartless” in his response, or lack thereof, Hochman said.

Families who have had kids accidentally die of fentanyl poisoning because Gascon will not crack down on the problem and store owners who cannot get any help in protecting their shops from smash and grab gangs and from people who know they can steal up to $950 worth of stuff and not have to worry at all about facing any consequences are infuriated/exasperated by the current DA.

“There is no solution to these problems if Gascon remains district attorney,” Hochman said.

Campaigns always come with twists and turns, but Hochman said his biggest surprise has been how Gascon has essentially phoned it in (hint – maybe because he knows there’s no point?).

“He has not matched my efforts, he’s not ‘working’ his campaign,” Hochman said. Gascon has a record, to say the least, that is “hard to defend,” but he’s not even trying to stand by it or at least try to convince people he “needs more time” to bring his (albeit dystopic) vision to fruition, Hochman noted.

If he prevails Tuesday and becomes DA on December 2, Hochman said he will immediately eliminate all of Gascon’s “pro-criminal blanket policies” – such as practically banning the use of gun and gang sentencing enhancements – and will work to make sure each and every case is considered on its individual merits. He said he does not want to go back to a policy of “mass incarceration,” but will definitely take a “hard middle” stance when it comes to treating defendants. First timers, drug-users, non-violent offenders?  Maybe they need something besides jail. Repeat offenders, fentanyl dealers, violent criminals? See ya’ behind bars.

Hochman admits, however, the Gascon legacy will hang over the office for some time. The nearly two dozen lawsuits filed against Gascon by office employees and others will have to be dealt with and the last-minute political stunt involving the possible freeing of the Menendez brothers will have to reviewed (probably: there is a hearing on Nov. 25 that could obviate the need for a scheduled December 11 hearing on an actual re-sentencing.)

Then there are the personnel issues – what to do with some of Gascon’s blatantly political appointments of some very dodgy people? 

“Every contract will be reviewed,” Hochman said, noting that some may or may not fall under certain civil service rules protection.

That being said, Hochman said he is looking at what could be a very major shake-up in current office leadership.

“We will put people who are capable of leading others in the position they are best qualified for,” Hochman said.

Now that would be a change.

The election is Tuesday.