» Sign Up For Breaking News Alerts» Like Us On Facebook» Follow Us On Twitter

Local labor leader Lorena Gonzalez is one of the most powerful figures in San Diego. Gonzalez funds democratic candidates and opposes leading San Diego mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio, who wants to cut pensions for union workers.

DeMaio’s camp is now up in arms after a tweet from Gonzalez, that read in part: "Time for Carl to answer real questions…" The tweet went on to ask Carl to answer questions regarding his partner and issues about his partner's criminal past.

“It's most unfortunate that it was tweeted. It crosses a line that shouldn't be crossed in respectable conversation and civil dialogue,” said Political Analyst Carl Luna.

10News has investigated the issues at hand, but has chosen not to report on the charges in detail because they occurred during a troubled youth more than twenty years ago.

“20 years, 20 minutes, it does not matter what a loved one of a candidate does,” said Luna.

Thursday evening Gonzalez told 10news over the phone, "I think it's relevant."

She went on to say, "Carl paid him as a vendor in an initiative drive. If he were a felon alone, it would be a story."

Thursday afternoon, Gonzalez tweeted again, "Do the candidates spouses (sic) backgrounds matter? When they are paid for campaign work, I think they absolutely do."

10News reporter Preston Phillips asked Luna, “Do you think this at all brings into question Carl Demaio’s judgment?”

Luna responded with, “You cannot judge people on their emotional relationships. There are two worlds we live in: our professional life and our personal life and it's not really fair to allow the two to intermingle.”

Carl DeMaio’s campaign spokesman, Stephen Puetz, issued a statement to 10News Thursday night:

“This attack has nothing to do with the important issues facing the city of San Diego – it is an inappropriate examination of a candidate’s loved ones. Frankly, the attack is vile, outdated, and has no place in this race.”