Jason Anderson: I actually do deserve a raise. Vote yes on Measure L.

I was disappointed, but not surprised by your recent editorial against San Bernardino County Measure L. You correctly point out that Measure L will do two things.

First, the measure will ensure a certain level of public safety resources regardless of who may get elected as a county board supervisor. Essentially, the measure would make it very difficult for a board majority to defund the police.

Second, the measure does address the district attorney and sheriff's salary. Unfortunately, you deceive your readers into thinking your opinion is objective and based upon all the information necessary to make a decision.

Your readers should be aware that, to my knowledge, your editorial board never contacted me for an interview to discuss the measure and the equity of the district attorney's salary. I am left to make my case here after your decision has already been made. That is not objective journalism, and it was unfair. San Bernardino County has always been considered a large county within the California District Attorney's Association.

Just like the counties of Orange, San Diego, Riverside, Ventura and Los Angeles, San Bernardino County is situated similarly with the criminal justice issues that arise in those counties. All my counterparts in those counties make $80,000 more than me in pulled pay.

Your opinion piece references an by Aidan McGloin from Follow Our Courts correctly stating that my salary would increase by $100,000. But you fail to inform your readers that McGloin's also correctly pointed out that since 2011, the District Attorney salary has fallen $80,000 in value due to inflation and the cost of living in California. Again, so much for objective journalism from the Southern California News Group.

You should have also included in your opinion piece that the appointed San Bernardino County Public Defender salary in pulled pay is $332,000. Mine is $272,000. I am in no way suggesting that his salary should be reduced. To the contrary, it is appropriate given the educational and experience level and responsibility of ensuring everyone's constitutional rights in the criminal justice system. However, readers should have been told that the Public Defender's Office handles only 60%-70% of the criminal cases in the county. The District Attorney's Office handles 100% of the cases.

Your lack of objectivity, and, frankly, one of the cheapest shots I have ever seen taken, is on full display when you criticize Sheriff Dicus and the handling of the shooting of 15-year-old Savannah Graziano . Your opinion piece is not specific and clear on your criticism of the sheriff on this issue. However, I will be specific and clear: Miss Graziano's father is squarely and solely responsible for his daughter's death. If Savannah's father had survived the shootout that both he and his daughter participated in against law enforcement, the district attorney's office would have charged him for the provocative act murder of his daughter. Using that horrible instance to argue against a pay raise for the sheriff reminds me of President Teddy Roosevelt's famous speech that it is not the critic who counts, but the men who are in the arena. I am glad the sheriff, and not the editorial board, is in the arena.

Lastly, as I said, I am not surprised by your opinion piece against Measure L. I am buoyed by one of your past endorsements. Six years ago, you endorsed my predecessor over me when I ran for district attorney. You tried to convince the voters that I did not pass the smell test. You criticized me for relying on my education, training and experience to make a living for me and my family in private practice by representing two inconsequential witnesses in the Colonies prosecution. That prosecution, as I am sure your board will remember, cost the taxpayers, at least, $65 million.

I have never cost the taxpayers in this county anywhere near that. In fact, in the six years I have been the district attorney, our office has returned each year on average $3 to $4 million from our budget back to the county's general fund. Seems like an $18 to $24 million savings should be rewarded with a salary that is the same as my similarly situated colleagues around the state and even in my own county.

Would have been nice to have had the opportunity to advocate for myself before you made your decision.

Jason Anderson is district attorney of San Bernardino County