Critics Question Angelique Ashby After 48 Percent Crime Reduction Claim Proven Wrong

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Sacramento City Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Angelique Ashby is on the defensive after new numbers show her claim of a 48 percent drop in her district's crime rate is wrong.

Ashby used the crime number in mayoral campaign forums, but the figure was based on bad math forwarded to her by the Sacramento Police Department.

"You'd probably have to ask the police chief exactly how that happened," Ashby said.

That number didn't account for redistricting. The dramatic drop was wrong, but she still calls her commitment to public safety strong.

"It doesn't change the fact that I believe public safety is the No. 1 priority of the city of Sacramento," she said.

But the incorrect number has Ashby's critics calling foul.

Sacramento City Councilman Steve Hansen says Ashby should have performed more due diligence before making the campaign claim.

"Ultimately for me, it's where does the buck stop?" he said. "And to blame the police chief and city manager isn't a form of leadership."

It's Ashby's first slip in a campaign that's billing her as David in a battle against Goliath, former state Senate president pro tem Darrell Steinberg.

Campaign statements show in the last year Steinberg raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars and has $195,000 cash on hand. Ashby raised $168,000 and has $150,000 cash on hand.

"The two amounts raised by both of us are the most any mayoral candidate has raised in that period of time so the race is expensive because of who's in it," she said.