Date: Mon, 24 Apr 1995 01:48:17 -0600 (MDT) From: Bob Summersgill Good guys win at KUNM By Bob Summersgill, for the Weekly Rainbow The battle for control of the KUNM radio board has ended, and the religious right has been shut out. KUNM, 89.9, a public radio station Q which caries gay programs and a variety of view points Q was targeted by the Christian Coalition for takeover. The "community" slate of candidates had a clean sweep, averaging about 2000 votes each out of the approximately 3000 ballots cast. The Christian Coalition backed slate received between 593 and 518 votes. The winners include two incumbent board members, John Walker and Barbara Grothus; two lesbians, Martha Trolin and Elisa Lucero; and KUNM volunteer Stephen Mills for the alternative position. The KUNM board has the unusual election procedure of opening voting to anyone requesting a ballot. Most organizations only allow members to vote. Only 4 of the 13 board members are elected. "The idea of having the people from the conservative slate who fundamentally don't support the product of public radio be on the public radio board is much like having people who do not believe in government serve in Congress - as we see, the results are unhappy." Al Lieth, the incumbent board member and Republican organizer received just 64 votes from KUNM members, the rest came from non-members requesting ballots. Lieth and the rest of his slate campaigned against continued public funding for KUNM and increasing right wing programming. "Both the fundraiser ... and the overwhelming support for the community slate show that people really love the product of KUNM and public radio in general," said Trolin KUNM completed it's most successful fundraising campaign to date; raising $125,000 up from $60,000 last fall. "Can we sustain it?" said KUNM Director of Development Mary Bokuniewicz. "That's a big question mark." A big on-air winner in the fundraising is "This Way Out," the international news show on Sunday mornings. The show raised $1,650 in one half hour. "It compares very favorably to Morning Edition," said Bokuniewicz Morning Edition is the station's biggest draw, raising $3,700 per hour. KUNM will be broadcasting a "National Lesbian & Gay Radio Town Meeting" on Sunday May 7 from 6 to 8 pm. The call in format with national and grassroots activists will discuss the rise of the antigay right wing and successful strategies for countering radical right local initiatives.