Tucson, Arizona Monday, 28 July 2003
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gray Davis
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Now that the election to recall California Gov. Gray Davis
is official, the state famous for eccentric residents may be getting a few unconventional
candidates to fill his shoes.
Among those floating their names as possible replacement candidates in the
Oct. 7 election are a freeway rest stop caretaker, a teen who couldn't get elected
to his school's student congress and a woman selling thong underwear bearing
her campaign slogan.
The list will probably grow. All it takes is $3,500 and signatures from 65 voters
in the same political party as the would-be office-seeker. The fee can be reduced
if more signatures are gathered.
Of course, the opportunity has sparked the interest of some higher-profile
potential candidates, even if Arnold Schwarzenegger decides not to jump in.
The list includes a congressman, state legislators and last year's Republican
nominee for governor.
Then there are the others.
The most prominent in that group so far is Georgy Russell, a 26-year-old programmer from Mountain View, who has a Web site where supporters can buy thong underwear, boxer shorts and other merchandise labeled "Georgy for Governor."
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Russell, a Democrat, has shown fearlessness in tackling popular issues, as
in this entry she posted Saturday on her Web log: "Judging by the attention
these thongs are getting, you'd think NO ONE wears thongs. Thongs are just underwear,
after all, and worn by many females on a daily basis."
Among the other everyday people who say they might join the race by the Aug.
9 deadline:
* Jerry Morissette, longtime caretaker of a Bay Area freeway rest stop, hasn't
announced any platform yet.
* Michael Wozniak, retired Oakland police officer, says the centerpiece of his
effort will be legalizing ownership of ferrets as pets.
* Roger Willoughby says he might run because he needs the work. "I'm unemployed,
for one thing," said Willoughby, a Poway Republican who has waged a couple
of unsuccessful City Council races.
Then there's 18-year-old William Pratt of San Bruno, who lost six elections
for his high school student congress. He hopes to collect 10,000 signatures,
which would allow him to run without paying any filing fee.
"I don't really have a lot of money to spend on this," Pratt said.
"I've got to buy a laptop for college."