Pubdate: Tue, 27 Feb 2001
Source: Marin Independent Journal (CA)
Copyright: 2001 Marin Independent Journal
Contact:  150 Alameda del Prado, Novato, CA 94949
Website: http://www.marinij.com/
Author:  Richard Halstead

KAMENA RECALL SUPPORTERS GATHER NEAR CIVIC CENTER

Their featured speaker couldn't make it, but that didn't stop a rally near 
the Civic Center yesterday by about 20 supporters of the campaign to recall 
Marin District Attorney Paula Kamena.

The rally took the place of a press conference that was canceled after it 
became apparent the featured speaker, Erin Brockovich, couldn't attend.

Brockovich - who inspired the film of the same name starring Julia Roberts 
- - helped uncover pollution by Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s Hinkley gas 
compressor station.

Recall supporters carrying placards circled a fountain in a pedestrian 
island that runs alongside the Civic Center, where Kamena works.

Several hoisted brooms and waved signs that read: "Sweep Courts Clear of 
Corruption." One sign bore a drawing of a rat with the district attorney's 
name attached. Still other signs were posted later in the day on a central 
San Rafael freeway overpass.

"Look, they're whitewashing the Civic Center," said Peter Romanowsky of 
Sausalito, pointing to the building, which is being painted. Romanowsky is 
one of the leaders of the recall. The effort was launched by a group angry 
over child-custody decisions in the Marin courts.

The controversy began with family law court Judge Michael Dufficy, and 
quickly blossomed to include judges Lynn Duryee, Terrence Boren, Verna 
Adams and Kamena.

The effort to recall Dufficy, Duryee and Boren fizzled. The deadline to 
submit signatures in the effort to recall Adams is March 8.

But Kamena faces a May 22 special recall election largely due to the 
efforts of Lynnette Shaw, founding director of the Marin Alliance for 
Medical Marijuana in Fairfax.

Shaw spearheaded the call for Kamena's removal - as much for Kamena's 
enforcement of marijuana laws as her role in family law cases, which 
included the conviction of Carol Mardeusz, a Novato woman prosecuted by 
Kamena for perjury and attempting to abduct her own daughter.

Kamena wants to know where the money came from to pay people who collected 
13,942 valid signatures. Shaw has said the law allows her to withhold the 
information, although the state's Fair Political Practices Commission 
disagrees.

Shaw did not attend yesterday's rally and could not be reached for comment.
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