From the July 10 "Oregonian:" OCA STARTS CAMPAIGN TO RECALL 14 LAWMAKERS By Cathy Kiyomura (of the Oregonian staff) SALEM -- The Oregon Citizens Alliance on Friday launched a recall effort aimed at Oregon House members who voted in favor of a measure to halt the OCA's local anti-gay-rights campaign. OCA officials, who strenuously objected to Tuesday's House approval of a bill that could void anti-gay rights ordinances in two counties and six cities, are filing papers with the secretary of state's office in an attempt to recall 14 -- seven Democrats and seven Republicans -- of 38 Oregon House members who voted in favor of the measure. "This is beyond hardball politics," charged Lon Mabon, director of the Oregon Citizens Alliance. "It's about time that our elected officials learn the proper meaning of government." Mabon said all 38 members who voted in favor of the measure, House Bill 3500, would face a recall or OCA opposition during re-election. "Everyone who attempts to take away citizens' rights on this issue... we will attempt to recall or we will oppose them in the primary or general elections," Mabon warned. "Look!" smiled Rep. John Watt, R-Medford, a first round recall pick. "They singled out all men on this recall list. I'm shocked." "The OCA has blatantly discriminated in favor of heterosexual men," chuckled Rep. George Eighmey, D-Portland, one of two openly gay legislators who is a second round recall target. "I'm going to petition the OCA to get my name on that first recall list." Mabon said a political action committee called "Oregon Citizens Rights PAC" was formed and must submit an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 valid signatures on each lawmaker within 90 days. If the group takes the full 90 days to collect the signatures, the last possible day a recall election could be held would be Nov. 27, according to the state Elections Division. Mabon said he would especially like to see a successful recall against Rep. Jim Edmunson, D-Eugene, the bill's sponsor, and Rep. Del Parks, R-Merrill, who guided it through the House Judiciary Committee. "I'm not worried about it," said Parks, who is not running for re-election. "We did what was right for Oregon. We've got work to do here and I'm more concerned about doing my job." Others on the OCA list of 14 are Republicans Dennis Lake of Bend, Chuck Norris of Hermiston, Ken Baker of Portland, Bob Tiernan of Lake Oswego and John Meek of Hillsboro, and Democrats Michael Payne of Baker City, Peter Courtney of Salem, Lee Beyer of Springfield, Sam Dominy of Cottage Grove, Kevin Mannix of Salem and Bob Shiprack of Beavercreek. -------------------------------------------------------------------- iqm171@uriacc.uri.edu I Break for Borg