Free Republic

Over the years, Bill and Nadia Lockyer's neighbors watched the couple walk their young son up and down their Hayward street at Christmastime, admiring the festive lights. The image of this political power couple seemed as perfect as a campaign commercial. Everything seemed "hunky-dory" between the 70-year-old state treasurer and the 40-year-old Alameda County supervisor, said neighbor Stephen Welch. "He seemed happy. She seemed happy. I've never seen conflict or strife or anything," he said. But this week, after stories emerged of Nadia Lockyer's substance abuse, extramarital affair and alleged beating by a former lover in a Newark motel room,...

Vetting a candidate for elected office is commonplace in American politics, but sometimes the level of scrutiny isn't as thorough as it should be. Consider the recent troubles of Nadia Lockyer, an Alameda County supervisor who on Tuesday announced a leave of absence following an alleged assault two weeks ago. In an incident that still lacks clarity, Lockyer said she was the victim of an assault. Her husband, state Treasurer Bill Lockyer, said the attacker was an ex-boyfriend and that the assault happened Feb. 3 at a Newark hotel. Then on Tuesday, Nadia Lockyer announced that she had enrolled in...