SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – 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.
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.”
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:
• Jerry Morissette, longtime caretaker of a Bay Area freeway rest stop, hasn’t announced any platform yet.
• Michael Wozniak, a retired Oakland police officer, says the centerpiece of his effort will 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.”
AP-ES-07-27-03 1514EDT
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