Conrad questions Berryhill's heart

Mailer claims transplant renders candidate unfit

By MICHAEL G. MOONEY, BEE STAFF WRITER
Last Updated: May 18, 2006, 04:11:37 AM PDT

Bill Conrad questions the health of opponent Tom Berryhill in a campaign mailer, injecting instant controversy into the race for the Republican nomination to represent the 25th Assembly District.

Conrad, a former Modesto city councilman, produced the flier himself and mailed it to voters over the weekend. It says the heart transplant Berryhill received in 2000 raises serious questions about his fitness for office.

Berryhill, a Ceres farmer and businessman, said he and his supporters are outraged.

"Is that the biggest piece of garbage you've ever seen?" Berryhill said. "He's set a new low. This is the type of thing that keeps good people from running for office.

In bold red letters, the flier says: "Tom Berryhill Doesn't have the HEART for State Assembly."

Under the subheading "Heart Transplant Facts," it says:

"The Average Lifespan of a Heart Transplant recipient is 7 years.

"(Berryhill's heart transplant was 6 years ago)

"Heart Transplant patients take Anti-rejection medications for life.

"(These medications weaken the immune system making the recipient more susceptible to illness and death)

"Severe stress SIGNIFICANTLY shortens the life expectancy of Heart Transplant recipients."

Conrad cites as his source the book "Hurst's The Heart," which publisher McGraw-Hill describes as a "comprehensive textbook on cardiovascular disease."

Conrad said raising the issue of Berryhill's health is no different than the national debate over Vice President Dick Cheney's fitness for office in view of his heart problems.

"(Berryhill's) health is important," said Conrad. "It is an issue. None of my supporters have complained to me (about the mailer)."

Former Stanislaus County Supervisor Paul Caruso, who has endorsed Conrad, said Tuesday he had not seen the mailer. But he was aware of it.

"I think he's heading in the wrong direction," Caruso said. "It's not the right thing to do. On a personal attack like that, I don't condone it."

Caruso said he planned to speak with Conrad but was not planning to rescind his endorsement. He said he still believes Conrad is better on the issues.

Berryhill said he's already heard a lot of negative reaction to the mailer from Conrad.

"He sent this everywhere," Berryhill said. "We've got people enraged all over the district."

Berryhill said he has no health issues related to his heart.

"As I sit here today," Berryhill said, "my doctors have given me a clean bill of health. I've never had a rejection (episode). I've got a good heart. A strong heart. And a heart that's a little bit mad right now."

Conrad's mailer implies that Berryhill would have difficulty being an effective advocate for the 25th District.

"Can you imagine the costs to taxpayers for a Special Election," the flier states, "when poor health renders him unable to fulfill the duties of office?"

Larry Giventer, a professor of politics and public administration at California State Univers-ity, Stanislaus, had seen the mailer.

"Certainly, it's criticism (of Berryhill)," he said. "But that's the nature of politics."

Whether the mailer ultimately helps or hurts Conrad's campaign remains to be seen, Giventer said.

In the short term, it may focus new attention on the Conrad campaign.

"I'm sure that's what he hopes," Giventer said. "It will be up to the voter to decide. These so-called hit pieces, from time to time, have been known to backfire. I have no idea whether this one will."

The Conrad flier also questions his opponent's character and some of his associations, including Berryhill's political relationship with outgoing 25th District Assemblyman Dave Cogdill.

Cogdill, who cannot seek re-election to the Assembly because of term limits, is running for the state Senate.

Voters in the 25th Assembly District recently began receiving automated telephone calls attacking Berryhill, but Conrad said his campaign had nothing to do with them.

He dismissed phone calls and e-mails his campaign received complaining about the mailer, saying he believed they came from Berryhill supporters and likely were orchestrated by his opponent's campaign.

"They sounded scripted to me," Conrad said.

Despite Conrad's attack, Berryhill said he has no plans to respond in kind.

"We've been talking about issues in this campaign," he said, "and we will continue to talk about the issues."

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