GOVERNORS
Do over in Washington

The week in session
Across state lines
Hot issues
In the Hopper
State recaps available this week 
Upcoming elections
 

The races are (mostly) over, but the postmortem is just beginning, as Republicans and Democrats alike try to figure out what they did wrong -- and what they did right - - on November 2.  

Scrutinizing the statehouse races 

November 2 brought a few big changes to the nation's statehouse landscape, shifting party control in a dozen chambers. And even as state election officials continue trying to sort out exactly what happened on election day -- with recounts still pending in numerous statehouse races -- political observers have already begun dissecting the reasons why it happened the way it did. 

Overall, Democrats did slightly better in the state legislative races than Republicans, picking up a few more seats nationwide, with sizeable gains in COLORADO, MINNESOTA, WASHINGTON and VERMONT. Republicans, meanwhile, continued their success in the South and Midwest. Michael Davis, executive director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which advises and financially supports Democratic legislative candidates, attributed the Democrats' success to their focus on local issues, like education, health care and jobs, in contrast to the GOP's emphasis on national issues like terrorism and moral issues such as gay marriage. MARYLAND State Rep. John Hurson (D), who is also President of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), offered the alternative view that Democrats were aided by GOP "bloodletting" in the primaries. Hurson said Republicans eliminated moderates in those primaries and instead nominated candidates who proved too conservative for voters in the general election. 

Duane Parde, executive director of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), an association for conservative state lawmakers based in Washington, D.C., suggested still another explanation for the Democrats' gains: "527s," the supposedly independent political organizations that are allowed to raise unlimited money for political causes. Parde says heavy spending by 527s allowed the Democrats to take over both chambers of Colorado's Legislature. Others also acknowledged that 527s were a major influence, as well as a growing concern. NEW JERSEY Rep. Joe Kyrillos (R), for instance, said in a post-election conference sponsored by NCSL, "There is an enormous amount of money in some of our states, at the state level, and I think it's a problem. I think we will see more of it and I don't think it's a healthy thing for the process, for representative democracy."        NCSL's Hurson concurred. "In some cases, it's becoming a scandal -- hopefully not in Maryland, hopefully not in my district," he joked. 

There seems to very little disagreement about the impact of redistricting on the statehouse races. Election-watchers say new legislative district maps allowed the Democrats to seize control of the MONTANA Senate and NORTH CAROLINA House, and the Republicans to snatch the majority in GEORGIA's House, giving them control over both chambers of the Peach State Legislature for the first time since Reconstruction. The impact of term limits also appears difficult to dispute. Keon Chi, an expert on elections with the Council of State Governments (CSG), said 260 legislators in 12 states were barred from seeking re-election this year. In OKLAHOMA, a new term limits law allowed the Democrats to take control of the House for the first time since 1922.

And what, according to experts, is the net effect of the minor legislative reshuffling? The partisan battle for control of the nation's statehouses is now tighter than ever. The majority party in 21 statehouse chambers will hold a margin of four seats or less next year. And in 29 states, the governor will face a legislature that is either split between the parties or held by the opposing party. That, said CSG's Chi, means there's just going to be "more gridlock, particularly in the budget process." (STATELINE.ORG)

WEEKEND REBELLION IN ANCHORAGE: A coalition of Democrats and breakaway Republicans attempted to seize control of the ALASKA House from the GOP majority last Saturday, but Republican leaders managed to put down the rebellion by the time the weekend was over. About a dozen Republicans in the 40-member body and all 13 Democrats staged the coup after the majority caucus voted in a  post-election poll to replace Speaker Pete Kott (R) with Rep. John Harris (R). Coalition members claimed the team Harris had selected was not moderate enough to get work done in the House. "The purpose of forming a coalition was to support speaker Pete Kott and a mainstream Republican leadership organization ... Public opinion is that we want representation that values policy over politics," said coalition member Rep. Mike Hawker (R).

Harris, however, called the move a "power play by Pete Kott," and alleged that Kott and his supporters had bamboozled Republican legislators into joining the coalition by exaggerating the number of GOP defections and then warning them that they "would be left in the minority." Enlightening the breakaway legislators of that fact, said Republican leaders, enabled them to bring all but one of the strays back into the fold within about 48 hours of the coup's announcement. 

Republican leaders of the coalition responded to that news with words of abject surrender. "I acknowledge that for challenging the caucus there will be a price to pay," said Hawker. But Democratic leaders were a bit more defiant about their part in the failed rebellion. "Our reasons for doing this still exist," said minority leader Rep. Ethan Berkowitz (D). "We wanted to do politics that transcend partisanship." Berkowitz actually got downright quixotic: "Like a comet streaking across the sky. It was beautiful." (ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS, FAIRBANKS DAILY NEWS-MINER) 

DEMS EXTEND OLIVE BRANCH IN CO: Democrats swiped control of the COLORADO Senate from Republicans on Nov. 2 and now at least some of them are seeking to be magnanimous in victory. The chamber's majority leader-elect, Ken Gordon (D), is considering letting Republicans hold the number two position on committees. The vice-chairs would be able to make decisions whenever the Democratic chairman was not present. 

Not all Democrats are thrilled with the idea. Steve Adams, president of the AFL-CIO, which is credited for helping pull off the Democrats' coup, said, "We didn't put the resources into trying to get [them elected] ... to have them concede power." And Senate President-elect Joan Fitz-Gerald (D) stated, "I understand his motivation for doing this. Because I think he feels he's extending a  very big olive branch. I'm just not sure  it's the right thing to do." Republicans, understandably,  were a little more enthusiastic. Senate minority leader-elect Mark Hillman (R), said that while the move wouldn't  necessarily eliminate disagreements, it would be a "nice gesture" that would likely build up "a certain amount of goodwill." 

Political science professor John Straayer said he'd never seen the majority party offer vice chairmanships to the minority party in the more than 25 years he's been monitoring events at the Capitol. "I think what that signals is a desire to avoid harsh partisan conflict and get on with serious attention to the state's needs and problems," he said. "You can only hope that kind of olive branch produces more olive trees." And Straayer is not the only one who sees it that way. Sen. Dan Grossman (D), who favors the power-sharing idea, said, "If the Democrats are going to be anything other than a very temporary majority, we have to understand that getting things done is what got us the majority." (DENVER POST) 

POLITICS IN BRIEF: Organizers in WEST VIRGINIA are forming a third political party to give "the truly conservative person" a voice. The Constitution Party will advocate for a smaller federal government that strictly adheres to the U.S. Constitution and "its foundation in Biblical law" (ASSOCIATED PRESS, DOMINION POST [MORGANTOWN]). * Third-party presidential candidate Ralph Nader has requested a recount in several precincts in NEW HAMPSHIRE. Nader asked for the recount to address concerns about the accuracy of optical voting machines used in the state (LOS ANGELES TIMES). * Because of a computer problem in one county, NORTH CAROLINA may have to hold another statewide election to select its agricultural commissioner. That race was a close one, with fewer than 3,000 votes separating the Republican and Democratic candidates, and state election officials discovered last Tuesday that the county's computer failed to record the ballots of over 4,000 voters (NEWS & OBSERVER [RALEIGH]). 

-- Compiled by KOREY CLARK

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Budget & taxes

BUDGET BATTLE CONTINUES IN NY: NEW YORK Gov. George Pataki (R) vetoed a bill last week that was aimed at overhauling the state's famously dysfunctional budget process, which had been overwhelmingly approved by the Legislature. The measure would have established an independent agency to provide revenue estimates (a regular point of contention among the state's elected officials), shifted the start of the fiscal year from April 1 (a deadline the governor and Legislature have missed for 20 years in a row) to May 1 and required a contingency budget to take effect in the event the new deadline was missed in the future. Pataki said he vetoed the bill because it gave lawmakers an incentive to miss the deadline, which would allow them to throw out his budget plan and come up with one of their own. Unsurprisingly, the move angered lawmakers, who complained that passing the budget reform bill was one of the few things they managed to do this year. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D) called Pataki "an obstacle to government reform" and urged his fellow lawmakers to override the veto. But, despite the fact that both houses unanimously approved the bill, it's unclear whether that will happen. Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R) said only that his caucus would meet "to discuss how we will proceed." 

In related news, the New York Supreme Court took up two landmark cases last Tuesday that could alter the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches in regard to the state budget process. At issue in the two cases -- Pataki vs. New York State Assembly and Silver vs. Pataki -- is how much latitude the governor has in drafting the budget and how much the Legislature can alter that plan once they receive it. Court-watchers say the cases could be decided before the end of the year. (NEW YORK TIMES, ALBANY TIMES UNION)

CA MOVES CLOSER TO TAXING BY THE MILE: Last Monday, CALIFORNIA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) appointed a new director of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) who advocates replacing the state's gas tax with a levy based on how much residents drive. A growing number of transportation officials are saying that due to the increasing popularity of more fuel-efficient cars, the state's gas tax -- currently 18 cents per gallon -- is not keeping up with the state's road maintenance needs. The numbers appear to bear that out. According to a report earlier this year by the Legislative Analyst's Office, revenue from the gas tax will have declined 8 percent between 1998 and 2005, while the number of miles driven by Californians will have increased 16 percent. In addition to bringing in more revenue, officials say the per-mile tax would also enable them to improve traffic flow by taxing drivers more for using higher-traffic roadways during peak hours. The plan has plenty of critics, however, including supporters of hybrid-fuel cars, who say it would eliminate a major incentive to purchase such vehicles, and privacy advocates, who fear the global positioning satellite (GPS) technology the new system would rely on could be used for other purposes. Consequently, the by-the-mile tax has not yet been endorsed by Schwarzenegger. But the governor's appointment of veteran Caltrans official Joan Borucki as head of the DMV has placed a strong supporter for the idea within the top level of his administration. (LOS ANGELES TIMES) 

BUDGETS IN BRIEF: U.S. Rep. John Linder (R-GA), together with 50 co-sponsors, has introduced legislation to replace the federal income tax with a national sales tax. Under the proposal, all goods and services, including food and medical expenses, would be taxed at a rate of 23 percent. Tax experts say that while some changes to the tax code are a certainty, it's not at all clear what they will be. One, however, Bill Raabe, a tax professor at Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business, indicated a national sales tax isn't out of the question. "If it's ever going to happen, now's the time," he said (ASSOCIATED PRESS, THE FORUM [FARGO]). * An ALABAMA county circuit judge dismissed a legal challenge to several controversial legislative "pork projects" last week, a decision that, barring an appeal, will allow lawmakers to go ahead with their plans to dole out $11.7 million in education projects for their districts (BIRMINGHAM NEWS). * Corrections was the fastest growing area of state government in WISCONSIN during the 1990s, according to a report by the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance. Corrections spending -- mainly to open and operate eight prisons -- jumped 267 percent since 1992, from $233 million per year to $855 million. The Badger State also led the nation in arrest rates (LA CROSSE TRIBUNE). * A group of business executives in VIRGINIA has formed a political action committee and raised $1 million to support Republican state delegates who voted in favor of the tax increase passed during this year's contentious and protracted General Assembly session. The PAC, called Leadership for Virginia, was formed in response to claims that tax opponents will try to oust those delegates in the Republican primaries next spring (WASHINGTON POST). 
 

-- Compiled by KOREY CLARK

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Governors

DO OVER IN WASHINGTON: After two weeks of counting and daily lead changes, the only thing certain in the race to replace outgoing WASHINGTON Gov. Gary Locke (D) is that they now have to do it all over again. The final vote tally showed Republican Dino Rossi winning by a razor thin 261 votes -- a margin of just 0.0093 percentage points -- which by Evergreen State law triggers an automatic recount. Both sides remain optimistic, with Democrat Christine Gregoire telling her supporters that, "This race is far from over...Stick with me, we'll be back, and I'll be the governor." Gregoire went as far as to publicly name the head of her transition team, former Agriculture Dept. chief Jim Jesernig. Rossi was more reserved, but he did acknowledge his faith in the vote. "I'm on the right side of this first count. If we're successful with the recount, which I believe we'll be, I do plan on being governor of the whole state." 

Time will tell whose confidence is well placed. Sect. of State Sam Reed said right after the first count was concluded that he expects several hundred votes could change in the recount. Reed said optical scanning machines used in some counties will likely pick up votes they missed in the first count, and that another trip through counting machines will also knock loose any hanging chads left over on punch card ballots. 

The results could mean big changes in Olympia over the next four years. Washington has had two consecutive decades of Democratic governors, and both statehouse chambers are now controlled by Democrats, which would position Gregoire on friendly turf for enacting her agenda. Although Rossi ran on a platform of being a business-friendly social moderate similar to that of the popular Locke, nobody expects him to enjoy the same warm fuzzies with a hostile Legislature. The re-tally began Saturday and is expected to be concluded and a winner declared by Wednesday of this week. But, it is also not likely to be the end of the matter, as both parties have -- of course -- promised a legal challenge should the recount not go their way.  (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER)

SCHWARZENEGGER WANTS BETTER CYA: CALIFORNIA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) proposed a sweeping overhaul of the state's youth prison camps last week to hasten the settlement of a lawsuit that challenged conditions in the California Youth Authority (CYA), which houses the state's most violent youth offenders. The new plan calls for the state to develop by January detailed plans to improve virtually every phase of the CYA's operations, including dealing with gangs, treating mentally ill inmates and the use of force by guards and staff. The CYA also agreed to several other short-term solutions, such as separating less dangerous inmates from more violent ones, reducing inmate time in isolation and improving processes for inmates on suicide watch. 

The CYA has been rocked with years of  controversy and trouble, highlighted last year by the videotaped beatings of two inmates by multiple guards while others watched. There have also been seven suicides and hundreds of other attempted suicides over the last five years. Schwarzenegger said the reforms will return the system to being the national model it once was, saying, "The lawsuit said California should have done a better job with its young offenders, and it was right...we are on the right track now." But not everyone agreed. David Steinhart, a veteran juvenile justice expert and long-time critic of the system, said, "This agreement does not transform the CYA, it merely brings it up to a tolerable level. The danger is that the governor will tie a ribbon around this and call it a day, when there is a lot more that needs to be done to re-engineer the system." A federal judge must still approve the agreement. (LOS ANGELES TIMES)

WILL EXECUTION KILL FLETCHER'S MED LICENSE? A group of Bluegrass State doctors say KENTUCKY Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R), a licensed  doctor, violated the American Medical Association's ethical guidelines this month when he signed the execution order for a convicted killer. The group says the AMA clearly prohibits doctors from participating, directly or indirectly, in executions. Fletcher's attorney, John Roach, denied the governor violated the code. "By signing the death warrant, in no way is Gov. Ernie Fletcher participating in the conduct of an execution," Roach said. AMA officials are looking into the matter, but AMA spokesman Dr. Michael Goldrich, chairman of the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, said the code does not normally pertain to non-practicing physicians who are working outside the sphere of medicine. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

GOVERNORS IN BRIEF: Although she did not rule out a run for the presidency in 2008, ARIZONA Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) said she intends to run for a second term in 2006. Napolitano, 46, also underwent surgery to have an ovarian cyst and her right ovary removed. Her office released a statement that said the cysts appeared to be benign, and she is expected to be back at work this week. Napolitano had breast cancer surgery in 2000 (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, ASSOCIATED PRESS). * Acting NEW JERSEY Gov. Richard Codey (D) signed two executive orders in his first two days in office. The first calls for an overhaul of the Garden State's mental health system, while the second will provide ethics training for thousands of state employees and ban special fees for lobbyists (NEW YORK TIMES). * WISCONSIN Gov. Jim Doyle (D) announced plans to spend $750 million in public and private money to bolster the Badger State's standing in the burgeoning biotech industry. At least $375 million of that would go toward building two state-of-the-art embryonic stem cell research centers. The proposal is in direct response to CALIFORNIA voters approving $3 billion in funding for embryonic stem cell research on Nov. 2 (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL). 
 

 -- Compiled by KOREY CLARK

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Across state lines

States still counting...and recounting

Although the elections are now three weeks old, many states are still trying to get a final count on their legislative races. In MONTANA, for instance, Democrats are anxiously awaiting a recount on the District 12 race in the House, which saw Constitution Party member Rick Jore defeat Democrat Jeanne Windham by a single vote, 1,556 to 1,555. At stake is control of the Treasure State House, which Republicans now hold by a 50-49 edge. Should a recount give Windham the victory, Democrats would gain a tie and a share of power. Dems already hold the Senate as well as the governor's office, where Democrat Brian Schweitzer takes over for outgoing Gov. Judy Martz (R). Numerous ongoing recounts could also still change party control in the MAINE House, where Dems currently hold a three-seat advantage, and in the IOWA Senate, which is tied. One of the larger shifts in seats came in NEW HAMPSHIRE, where Democrats realized a gain of a whopping 28 seats, improving from 119 to 147. While gains like that are always a welcome thing for any party, you will have to excuse Granite State Dems if they don't get overly excited -- even with the losses, Republicans still hold 253 seats. Although final counts are still pending, the accompanying chart shows a snapshot of where states stand as of Nov. 18. 
 

-- By RICH EHISEN

 

Hot issues

BUSINESS: Attorneys general in MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT, and NEW HAMPSHIRE file suit against Simon Property Group, North America's largest shopping mall owner, alleging that the company's gift cards include fees and an expiration date that are in violation of consumer protection laws. The company had already filed suit against the three states in federal court, claiming their cards are issued by Bank of America and therefore subject to federal laws covering interstate commerce rather than more restrictive state laws (FOSTER'S DAILY DEMOCRAT). * MICHIGAN-based retailer Kmart agrees to purchase fellow retail icon Sears, Roebuck and Co. for $11 billion, a deal that will create the third largest retailer in the nation.  With almost 3,500 retail stores, the new company, to be called Sears Holding Corporation, will have around 55 billion dollars in annual sales (ASSOCIATED PRESS).

CRIME & PUNISHMENT: A FLORIDA court rules that the state's plan to shift the cost of housing and feeding its juvenile detainees to counties is unconstitutional. The ruling says the state's effort to have counties foot the $90 million annual price tag needed a two-thirds majority approval from the Legislature to pass constitutional muster. The Senate vote achieved the standard, but the House did not (ORLANDO SENTINEL). * The ILLINOIS House endorses legislation that protects homeowners who live in areas that allow gun ownership from criminal prosecution for shooting home intruders. The House voted 85-30 to override a veto of the measure from Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), meaning the bill now becomes Prairie State law (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES).  * The ILLINOIS Supreme Court shoots down two lawsuits accusing gun manufacturers of knowingly letting guns fall into the hands of criminals. Both rulings were unanimous, but five of the seven justices banded together to urge Prairie State lawmakers to create tougher gun regulations (ASSOCIATED PRESS).  

EDUCATION: The University of CALIFORNIA board of Regents rejects a proposal to add the category of "multiracial" to the cultural identity portion of student application forms. The proposal's author, UC Regent Ward Connerly, reasoned that such a designation would allow students more options in defining themselves while also recognizing a growing segment of the student population. Regents countered that the current system follows federal guidelines because it allows applicants to mark as many racial identifiers as they like, and produces more reliable racial data. The vote was 12-1 against (ASSOCIATED PRESS). 

ENVIRONMENT: A NEW JERSEY appeals court rules that the Garden State environmental commissioner overstepped his authority by blocking a planned hunting season on bears this December. The court ordered commissioner Bradley Campbell to reinstate the hunt and to begin issuing licenses in time for the beginning of the six-day bear season that starts on Dec. 6 (NEW YORK TIMES). * Congress grants final approval to the most far-reaching Indian water settlement in U.S. history. If approved by President Bush, the deal would cede to two ARIZONA Indian tribes nearly half of the COLORADO River water originally set aside to service the cities of Phoenix and Tucson, and allow those tribes to lease it back to the cities at a profit. The deal also would reduce Arizona's debt to the federal government for building the canal project that carries water to those cities (ARIZONA REPUBLIC). 

HEALTH: The WEST VIRGINIA House votes 93-0 to endorse SCR 301, a resolution that authorizes state pharmaceutical officials to move forward with a plan that eventually will allow the state to directly negotiate price discounts with drug manufacturers. The Senate had previously passed the resolution, also on a unanimous vote. Lawmakers say the ultimate goal is to have 10-15 states join them to jointly negotiate discounted prices from drug makers (CHARLESTON GAZETTE). 

SOCIAL POLICY: The WASHINGTON Supreme Court announces it will finally hear arguments in the first of two lawsuits challenging the Evergreen State's ban on same-sex marriage. The court will begin hearing arguments in March 2005, almost exactly a year after the suits were filed. In each case, a lower court ruled the law to be unconstitutional, but state officials appealed (SEATTLE TIMES). * A U.S. District court blocks OKLAHOMA officials from distributing state revenue earned from the sale of specialty "Choose Life" license plates. The injunction comes amidst a lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of the anti-abortion plates (ASSOCIATED PRESS). 

POTPOURRI: The ILLINOIS House rejects an attempt to override a veto from Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) on a bill that would have raised the speed limit for semi-trailer trucks to 65 mph on some Prairie State highways (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES). * A bill that would have allowed VIRGINIA to continue on with its decade-long experiment with red light cameras dies in a House committee. The trial period on the cameras expires in June of 2005. Camera supporters say they will reintroduce the legislation next session (WASHINGTON POST). * The NEW JERSEY Assembly overwhelmingly approves ACR1, a measure that would amend the state constitution to establish the post of state lieutenant governor. It now goes to the Senate, where it must pass by a three-fifths majority to gain approval. Garden State voters, however, would also have to endorse the measure before it could become law (STAR-LEDGER [NEWARK]).
 

-- Compiled by RICH EHISEN

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Once around the statehouse lightly

THE UN-REPUBLICAN. Former MINNESOTA Gov. Elmer Anderson died recently, and as columnist Nick Coleman of the Minneapolis Star Tribune notes, he made a confession not long before he passed away. Anderson, a Republican, admitted that he voted Democratic across the board in the 2002 elections. Anderson was grumpy with both GOP top-of-the-ticket candidates (Tim Pawlenty for governor and Norm Coleman for U.S. Senate) because both had, as Anderson saw it, caved in to anti-tax forces and taken a pledge never to raise taxes -- even if the state hit a fiscal wall. "I thought he'd gone too far," Anderson said at the time. Anderson's parting advice to Minnesota Republicans: "Get back to the traditions of Minnesota as a progressive, thoughtful, sensible community of people."

A LITTLE MACE NEVER HURT NOBODY. It happened not once, but twice. During a tour of a CALIFORNIA Youth Authority facility in Stockton last week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was maced when a security guard's canister accidentally burped. The guard, governor and other officials were forced to evacuate their van, reports the Los Angeles Times. Amusing -- the first time. Fortunately, the governor has an extra strong sense of humor because the same guard had a second accident not more than five minutes later, causing yet another van evacuation. No word on whether the guard has been reassigned from the Central Valley to a prison in the Mojave Desert.

BUDGET DUST. Never mind that NEW JERSEY has a $4 billion budget deficit. Lawmaker pork must be dispensed. So, reports the Newark Star-Ledger, dogs in East Brunswick will get a doggy retreat ($125,000), Woodbury skateboarders will have their own park ($350,000), and Lawnside firefighters will drive around in a new truck (whatever). The biggest single slab of bacon goes to Camden ($3.5 million) for redevelopment. Statewide total: $88 million, with the lion's share pea shot into Democratic districts. Hey, Democrats are in charge, y'know.

BLOGGING NIRVANAH. That would be the state of WASHINGTON, where the governor's race was still not settled more than two weeks after the election, and where last Thursday Republican Dino Rossi and Democrat Christine Gregoire were separated by 261 votes (out of more than 2.6 million cast). According to The Associated Press, the cat hair-thin margin has created a vast new world for bloggers, those folks who instantly opine across the Internet. "Like watching a horse race," says one blogger who often posts as many as 11 updates a day. A recount already is underway. Meanwhile, in CALIFORNIA, yet another legal wrinkle has developed in the weird San Diego mayoral race. As of last Thursday, write-in candidate Donna Frye held a 140-vote lead over incumbent Dick Murphy. But as California Journal and the San Diego Union Tribune report, a controversy has arisen over some write-ins that may not have been counted because the little bubble next to "write in" was not filled in even though Donna Frye's name was written in the available space. This legal hassle joins two others filed last week. Expect the winner to be announced just prior to the November 2008 general election.
 

-- By A.G. BLOCK

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Executive Editor: A.G. Block
Associate Editors: Rich Ehisen, Korey Clark
Editorial Advisor: Lou Cannon
Correspondents: Richard Cox (CA), Steve Karas (CA), 
Bruce McKeeman (CA), Kelli Harvell (FL), Linda Mendenhall (IL), 
Lauren King (MA) and Ben Livingsgood (PA)
Design: Richard Hansen, Heather Conway

Copyright 2004 State Net
ISSN: 1521-8449