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Edward wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:928859.23992.qm@web54306.mail.re2.yahoo.com"
type="cite">What's the deal with State Senator Abel Maldonado's
district? There was one person (whose name I forgot) that said he was
running as a Green in 2008 in this district, but I have not heard
anything from him or anyone else since. By anyone else, I mean from the
Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, or SLO Greens.</blockquote>
This is a long, old <a
href="http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/08.25.04/fly-0435.html">story
of political power and corruption.</a> The Green Candidate, Brook
Madsen, was a political unknown. Still, he polled 4.5% of the vote
after the sordid details came out. <br>
<br>
Madsen had been approached to run by two men, who claimed to be
members of the Monterey County Council. They paid his filing fee. It
turns out that one of the two, Paul Bruno, was then, and still is, the
Chairman of the Monterey County Republican Central Committee. This was
a sleazy act designed to take votes away from the Democratic candidate,
Peg Pinnard. <br>
<br>
When Madsen found out that he had been used in this manner, he went on
local TV and radio to ask voter to vote for Pinard. Still, he drew a
little over 16 K votes. Had all of his vote gone to Pinard, it would
still not have been enough to put her over the top. <br>
<br>
This district is a prime example of just how badly our state
legislature has gerrymandered themselves into safe districts. Santa
Maria and Morgan Hill have little in common, yet are both part of the
district. Morgan Hill and Gilroy have a lot in common and share only
the County Supervisor's district. They are, however, in separate
Congressional, Assembly and State Senate Districts. <br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="80">--
"Anytime you have an opportunity to make things better and you don't, then you are wasting your time on this Earth" Roberto Clemente
Wes Rolley
17211 Quail Court, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.refpub.com/">http://www.refpub.com/</a> -- Tel: 408.778.3024</pre>
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