Panel won't contest ex-candidate's secrecy

By Seattle Times staff

Linda Averill fought to keep contributors confidential.

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The commission vote earlier this month ends the legal battle of former candidate Linda Averill, who sued when the commission rejected her request to protect donors out of a fear of harassment or retribution.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik ruled that the release of the information would violate Averill's free-speech rights, saying there was evidence party members had been threatened and harassed.

"If other campaigns can make that same showing, they would likely get the same results," said elections commission executive director Wayne Barnett. "But it's a tough showing," he said, and any campaign or political party would have to prove a threat existed.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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