Here's a link to the whole set.

[11/10/2007 7:15 AM, update: Protesters directly halted the transport of two trucks with military cargoes out of the Port of Olympia on Friday afternoon. Several other trucks seem to have been unable to attempt loading and leaving. PMR activists seek to halt their own complicity, via the municipal Port of Olympia, with the illegal, and immoral military action in Iraq.

The action is also designed to protect US soldiers and the Iraqi People, who are suffering directly as a result of this unjust and imperial military action.]

Many articles I have read in The Olympian lately, no matter the reporter, have lacked journalistic integrity. Many one-sided articles appear and then are challenged by letters to the editor, this is happening more and more.

What we've witnessed today, and what will likely continue with tomorrow's article, has the appearance of a blatant political attack on a progressive candidate. I predict that in the near future, I imagine sometime within the three day news cycle, we will see an editorial column penned by Mike Oakland and "approved" by the editorial board that further derides Meta for what they must consider egregious campaign expenditures. From the reaction I've read so far, with a few exceptions, people seem to feel that while she may have spent unwisely, she owned up to it, payed it back, and that we should move on.

All of this makes me wonder what Mike Oakland's motivations are in all of this. Someone suggested that perhaps he's trying to effect the nomination for Doug Mah's empty seat. I think at this point anything is possible.

[via Portland Indymedia]

Let's look at the facts: Sometime in the last few days Olympian reporter Matt Batcheldor received an anonymous tip (I have a very short list as to who the tipper was, but of course it's unverifiable) that Hogan had possibly violated PDC rules in her campaign spending. After receiving the tip, Batcheldor then called the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC). Here is the first sentence of Batcheldor's article:

"Olympia mayoral candidate Meta Hogan is under scrutiny from the state Public Disclosure Commission for spending campaign donors' money on questionable items — including cigarettes for herself."

The fact is that Meta Hogan was not under scrutiny at all. According to PDC Communications Officer Lori Anderson, the PDC had received no complaints about Hogan and that a call by The Olympian's Editorial Page Editor Mike Oakland was the first contact they'd received. Oakland spoke to PDC assistant director Doug Ellis, who confirms the conversation and also stated that this was the first contact they had received regarding Hogan's campaign spending.

Ellis explained that if there are questionable expenses, the process starts with a form letter to the candidate asking for a justification for the spending, not what he would categorize as an investigation. When asked if Batcheldor's lead sentence accurately reflects the actions of the PDC Ellis stated, "I suppose if they want to call it scrutiny they could, but really it's no more than asking them (the candidate) for an explanation."

If after that initial letter is sent out, a candidate provides an explanation that passes muster with the PDC, then all is dropped. Ellis clearly stated that there was no investigation into Hogan's campaign spending at this time.

According to Hogan Campaign Treasurer Pat Tassoni, as soon as a question arose about Hogan's spending he and Hogan headed to the PDC office where they spoke with Lead Filer Assistance Specialist Sally Parker in order to clarify things. After hearing about some of the expenses in question, Parker advised that perhaps the cigarettes would not be considered acceptable after a review by the PDC. "At that point", Hogan said, "I asked what we could do about it." Parker explained that the easiest thing to do would be to simply pay back her campaign for the "questionable" expenses and update her PDC forms to reflect the changes. Assistant Director Ellis confirmed, "That would probably solve any potential problems."

It appears that Meta Hogan's honesty caught up with her. According to PDC rules a candidate is not required to disclose any expenses under $50, all of her expenses in question were under that amount. According to Hogan she chose to report everything because she believes that "everyone that seeks public office should be accountable to the public to the highest degree possible".

Don't miss Cafe Secreto! Enjoy enchilladas, tacos, salsa and more, live music all night long from Jenny Jenkins, Live Active Cultures, Broken Strings, Vince Brown with band, and more! All proceeds go to POWER, Parents Organizing for Welfare and Economic Rights, formerly Olympia WROC!

Thursday, November 15th,
7 - 11 pm at Rosie's House,
714 13th Ave. S,
left on 13th from Jefferson.

POWER
Parents Organizing For Welfare and Economic Rights
701 Franklin Street SE Olympia, WA 98501
360-352-9716 toll free 866-343-9716
welfarerights@riseup.net
http://www.myspace.com/parentsorganizing

"Yeah, I was just talking to someone there, but I don't know who."

"No idea at all?"

"Well, it was a guy if that helps."

Thanks for the clarification.

Moved from here.

This is the reason I voted against Doug Mah. I thought since he was already on the council, running for mayor was trying to grab a ceremonial spot on the council. He will have no more power being mayor than being simply a councilmember.

From the OMC:

02.04.060 - Mayor-Powers and duties-Election-Term

A. In addition to the powers conferred upon the person elected mayor, he/she shall continue to have all rights, privileges and immunities of a councilmember. The mayor shall be recognized as the head of the city for ceremonial purposes and by the Governor for purposes of military law. The mayor shall have no regular administrative duties, but in time of public danger or emergency, if so authorized by ordinance, shall take command of the police, maintain law and enforce order.

B. Commencing with the November, 1991 election, the person elected by the voters of Olympia to Position One of the Olympia city council shall be the mayor, with the powers and duties set forth in subsection A of this section and by general city ordinance.

C. The term of the office of mayor shall be four years to run concurrently with the term for Position One of the council, with the initial term commencing January 1, 1992.

The story is here. I will add more as it becomes available.

Olympia mayoral candidate Meta Hogan is under scrutiny from the state Public Disclosure Commission for spending campaign donors' money on questionable items — including cigarettes for herself.

C.