Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 21:08:05 -0700
From: rdestep136@EARTHLINK.NET (RD)
Subject: Hess is Ernie-esque
To: AZRKBA@asu.edu


From tonite's press release:

HESS REJECTS CLEAN ELECTION PARTICIPATION

Barry Hess, Arizona Libertarian Candidate for Governor announced last
night at a Libertarian
gathering in Flagstaff, that he was rejecting participation in Arizona's
'Clean Elections' scheme
to finance political campaigns with public money.  Hess reiterated his
decision today at an event
in Sierra Vista, stating simply that after due consideration, that
"Matt's (Salmon) reasoning
prevailed.  He's right, how can we expect our next Governor to fix the
$1 Billion budget deficit
when they're willing to take a million dollars from fellow Arizonans?"
Hess and Salmon are the
only major candidates to refuse funding.

Today's event marked the 230th appearance Hess has made in his 18 month
campaign to
restore good, open and honest government.
<snip>
Hess has been sitting on pledges far exceeding the 4,000, $5.00
contributions required to qualify for
funding, from past associates involved in multi-level marketing and
admits he was tempted to
call them all in on more than one occasion.
<snip>
Hess said that he was recently contacted by the Clean Elections
Institute and told he would have
to give the $5.00 contributions he did collect to the State.  But Hess
begs to differ, "That's not
going to happen, but I will return the unused qualifying forms".  He
points out that he hasn't
requested certification as a 'clean' candidate and does not fall under
their authority, at all.  Hess
will be contacting the individual contributors to offer their
contributions back, "Of course, we'll
now  be asking for additional contributions up to a $700.00 limit per
person.