Listeners' demands for impartial oversight accepted "in principle" 

Over 760 listeners have so far signed SaveKPFA's petition demanding Pacifica find a neutral third party to administer the recall vote to ensure it is conducted cleanly and impartially. Many signers have added passionate comments urging Pacifica to quit stalling, such as Sheila Goldmacher, who wrote, "Enuf shenanigans! I want an honest, transparent election conducted asap! How much more money are you willing to have us lose? Get on it now." | SIGN THE PETITION, or SEE SIGNATURES 

The Pacifica National Board has agreed "in principle" to hiring a third party, and it is SaveKPFA's understanding that Pacifica will hire a reputable nonprofit that conducts elections to do the balloting. When Pacifica does finally mail the ballots, SaveKPFA will forward to Pacifica the names and addresses of those who have contacted us to tell us they had not received ballots.

Be on the lookout for election manipulations

For a recall election to be valid under Pacifica's bylaws, at least 10% of KPFA's members must vote. That's about 1700 to 1800 members, according to figures announced by management at recent local board meetings. The recall passes if a majority of those voting approve it.

Pacifica, however, recently indicated that it would only view a recall as valid if a majority of all eligible KPFA listener-members vote -- or about 9,000 members. Under that interpretation, members who don't vote, for whatever reason -- for instance, because their ballots got lost in the mail, or they were on vacation, or they died -- are automatically treated as "no" votes.

This interpretation is a blatant misreading of Pacifica's bylaws, and contrary not only to common sense, but also to the conduct of elections historically within Pacifica (listener turnout in elections at Pacifica stations usually under 15%). Such an interpretation would make the recall of any board member nearly impossible, undermining the principle of member control of Pacifica.

Like most of Pacifica's previous election manipulations, it probably wouldn't hold up in court. But it does demonstrate that Pacifica may manipulate the rules in Rosenberg's favor. SaveKPFA will fight for a transparent and democratic procedure, and against any  designed to thwart the will of KPFA's listener-members.