Ad Attacking Mike Thompson Will Stay Says Challenger Eric Jones

SONOMA VALLEY, CA — Rep. Mike Thompson accused his congressional opponent in the upcoming Nov. 3 election of crossing a line with an ad involving former staff members.

Thompson accused Eric Jones, his opponent in California's 4th Congressional District race, of making false claims and using unauthorized images of former staff members in his latest campaign ad.

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Thompson said Jones had "stooped to new lows" with an ad containing "false, unsubstantiated claims."

Jones, a 35-year-old venture capitalist with no record in public office, is challenging Thompson, 75, who has served 14 terms in the House.

The ad in question features Thompson's former communications director endorsing Jones, his Democratic opponent in California's 4th Congressional District race.

"I worked super closely with Mike Thompson. I was his right-hand person," the former aide, TJ Adams-Falconeren, says in the ad.

"Mike Thompson told me directly he plans to die in office," Adams-Falconer says in the ad.

The campaign ad also includes a photograph of Adams-Falconer standing beside Thompson and other staff members.

Seven former aides, including former legislative director Crozer Connor and deputy chief of staff Jennifer Goedke, disputed Adams-Falconer's claim.

They accused the campaign of using their photograph without their knowledge or permission.

The aides sent their protest letter Saturday, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Thompson also denied making the remark about wanting to stay in office indefinitely in a statement Sunday.

Jones' campaign stands by the ad but, without a paper trail, voters are left with a he said-he said claim.

However, Jones' campaign staff say that they blurred the faces of former staffers' in the ad at their request.