Hours before Lisa Sondergaard Smittcamp announces she's running against Elizabeth Egan for Fresno County District Attorney, the harsh words start flying.
"It's disturbing that she would do that for the benefit of politics," said Smittcamp.
Egan, speaking through a lawyer, is calling out her opponent and her connection to The Lime Light Bar and Restaurant.
The Egan campaign says "she violated three provisions of law, Deputy D.A.'s are prohibited from operating a liquor license in the county where they are an officer."
Smittcamp fired back.
"I was one a leave of absence at the time that I applied for the license," said Smittcamp.
The California Alcoholic Beverage Control is investigating and suggests the agency may have dropped the ball.
"The department could have been in error if she was an employee of the D.A.'s office at the time she came in and applied for the license," said CABC spokesperson John Carr.
Smittcamp, an attorney, claims she didn't know about the law and got the green light from Egan to get the license.
"I think the thing that's the most disturbing about Mrs. Egan bringing this to the forefront is her knowledge of it and her denial," said Smittcamp.
Text messages between the two candidates read in part:
"Is there anything prohibiting me from being the owner of the liquor license?" asked Smittcamp.
"Is there anything prohibiting me from being the owner of the liquor license?" asked Smittcamp.
"Don't believe so. I'll check discretely manana," replied Egan.
Political analyst Tom Holyke says both women are hurting themselves.
"Presumably you would want somebody in this job who knows the law pretty well as complies with the law. In both cases both candidates seem to have screwed up," said Holyke.