The Militant (logo)  
   Vol. 69/No. 28           July 25, 2005  
 
 
As we go to press: Victory in Seattle!
(front page)
 
BY STEVE CLARK  
SEATTLE, July 14—As we go to press, the Socialist Workers Party has won the first and largest battle in its fight here in the State of Washington to be exempted from publicly disclosing names, addresses, and jobs of financial contributors to its election campaigns. At a hearing late this afternoon, the Seattle Ethics and Election Commission (SEEC) ruled in favor of the petition filed on behalf of the 2005 SWP campaign for mayor of Seattle.

Chris Hoeppner, a meat packer and veteran trade unionist and socialist campaigner, is the party’s mayoral candidate. The campaign was represented at the hearing by Seattle political rights attorney Jim Lobsenz.

In 1997 the SEEC denied the SWP an exemption, which since the 1970s has been granted by the Federal Election Commission and other local and state election boards—including by the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission. Identifying contributors, the socialists point out, has for decades, in Seattle and throughout the country, provided an “enemies list” for employers, cops, government agencies, and others seeking to victimize supporters of socialist campaigns.

Next week’s issue will provide full coverage of the Seattle ruling and of the upcoming hearing before the state’s Public Disclosure Commission.

Funds continue to be urgently needed to bring this victory home.
 
 
Related articles:
N.Y. campaigners hit streets to put socialist slate on ballot
Socialists campaign among working people resisting bosses’ attacks  
 
 
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