The group includes an eclectic mix of Reform Party members, libertarians, Republicans, Democrats and independent community activists who volunteer their time to fight for term limits, against corporate welfare, and in defense of open meetings, public disclosure, fair elections, ethical standards and whistle-blower protection. Their vocal complaints led to changes by the state attorney general's office, which ended blanket confidentiality orders in settlements that arose from the caucus scandal. The positions are supposed to be drawn randomly. But of 11 races, including her own, Pearsall-Stipek drew the incumbent's name for the top ballot position 11 times. KING-TV noted that the chances of this result were 12,000 to 1 and concluded that the auditor had used marked cards in drawing the positions.
State law requires the public to have access to facilities where absentee ballots are tallied.
Bockwinkel, a former newspaper photojournalist and editor, captured Arends' assault of Coffey on film. A federal jury agreed with Coffey's complaint of excessive force by Arends, but U.S. District Court Judge Jack Tanner dismissed the suit and declined to award damages. That case is on appeal in the 9th Circuit. Michelle Malkin's column appears Tuesday on editorial pages of The Times. The tape, played for reporters at a news conference announcing a lawsuit, showed protesters sitting around a tree stump, screaming as deputies pulled back their heads, opened their eyes and applied the burning substance to their eyelids with cotton swabs.