October 1, 2003

6 DAYS... Until Recall

The latest campaign information and tidbits:

ARNOLD DONATION UNDER FIRE: Environmentalists are criticizing Arnold Schwarzenegger for accepting a $100,000 campaign donation from a Montana-based development company with a history of environmental complaints. The Republican actor has touted his support of environmental causes in the race to replace Gov. Gray Davis if he is recalled on Tuesday. The donation from Yellowstone Development LLC went to Mr. Schwarzenegger's pro-recall campaign committee, which is not subject to the same campaign finance restrictions as his fund to seek the governor's office.

The company, owned by Tim Blixseth of Rancho Mirage, is facing fines and other sanctions from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality stemming from complaints that the company illegally dumped sediment into tributaries of the Gallatin River and filled nearby wetlands without permits. Sean Walsh, spokesman for Mr. Schwarzenegger, said the campaign is ''looking into the issues'' surrounding Mr. Blixseth and his company but has not come to any conclusions.

ARNOLD'S ANTHEM: Mr. Schwarzenegger's campaign named Twisted Sister's triple-platinum ''We're Not Gonna Take It'' as its official campaign anthem after playing it for weeks to introduce the candidate. Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider says he has no problem with that -- he's a major Schwarzenegger fan.

HOW TO FIND OUT MORE: Visit the Secretary of State's Web site for information about the candidates and ballot measures at www.ss.ca.gov/elections/recall.htm.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: ''It's so silly that Arnold Schwarzenegger and the rest of them just keep saying, 'Well, we don't have to raise taxes, we don't have to cut services.' Oh, come on, isn't that why we're in this mess in the first place, because we weren't honest with each other?'' -- Comedian Bill Maher

— STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

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