Did you get the Gutierrez confusion?

If you voted today and wondered why Rex Gutierrez was on the ballot, you probably didn't read your mailers.

Apparently, there was a fear that voters might get Councilman Rex Gutierrez, far right, confused with Dennis Gutierrez, a Riverside County sheriff's deputy who's running for City Council. So the Committee for Effective Government, backers of incumbents Sam Spagnolo and Dennis Michael, sent out a flier over the weekend that read, "Don't be confused by their similar names! City Council candidate Dennis Gutierrez is NOT our city councilman Rex Gutierrez."

As if that wasn't clear, there was a quote from Rex that read, "He is not related to me and I am not supporting his candidacy."

This sheepish reporter should disclose here that the Daily Bulletin indeed ran a photo of Rex in a story about Dennis Gutierrez. The paper printed a correction and the accurate photo but who knows how many people were confused because of our mistake.

Rex said he didn't write the quotes in the mailer but gave the committee permission to use his name.

"I'm flattered that the incumbents thought my alter ego could beat them," said Rex.