Blackwater Election Today: Recall in Potrero

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

(full disclosure: I work for the Courage Campaign)

I know Courage Campaign has been quiet lately about Blackwater trying to open up a huge mercenary training base in tiny Potrero (509 registered voters), just north of the border, it is with good reason.  There is a recall election, ending today.  A group of local grassroots heroes started an effort to replace the five members of the Potrero Community Planning Group who voted to approve Blackwater's plans to build a base for 360 staff and "students" on 824 acres of enviromentally sensitive land, consisting of 15 firing ranges, a helipad, and a heavy vehicle.

One of those heroes is Carl Meyer, who is featured in this short documentary Courage Campaign put together. P.S. The sweetheart of a cat is named Twister.  There is more on Carl in a fantastic NYT article below the fold.  You might recognize the sign and the pumpkin patch in the photo accompanying the article ;).

Rick Jacobs is down in San Diego right now at the Registrar of Voters, waiting for the ballot counting to begin.  I will update as soon as we get the numbers.  Polls (aka the general store) closed at 8 pm.  It is an hours drive from Potrero to San Diego.  We should know by 10 pm.  Keep your fingers crossed, but the GOTV efforts by the Save Potrero folks has been just great.  There were however reports of one of the pro-Blackwater candidates trying to intimidate voters as they turned in their ballots today.  The Sheriff was called and there were plenty of witnesses.

Keep in mind that the 2004 numbers for Potrero were:

Kerry    105 votes          36.6%

Bush     179 votes          62.4%

Like many Potrero residents, Carl Meyer, 51, a local farmer and environmental activist, never gave much thought to Iraq or private security firms until Blackwater came to town last year. Ever since, he has been opposed to the company's proposal for 800 acres of rifle ranges, dormitories, classrooms and an armory.

"Having them here wouldn't be in keeping with our rural character," said Mr. Meyer, who has helped organize the recall effort. "But it's more than that for me. They're not good for our country."

Carl, like so many of the folks working on the recall in Potrero are accidental activists, more motivated with the impact it would have on the town, than the war in Iraq.

Blackwater has been working hard on this community.  They have one staff member working full-time down in San Diego County.  They show up to meetings.  They sent a 6 page glossy mailer to the residents coinciding with the recall.  As the Times says:

For the better part of the last year, Blackwater has maintained a conspicuous presence in Potrero. Company officials have attended planning group meetings, established a shelter and relief center after wildfires burned down 17 Potrero homes in October - and have attracted some supporters.

The town very much is divided.  Though there have been some bright spots.  Voter registration went up and indeed Billy Crawley, one of the members of Save Potrero who is running for the Planning Group, came to into the store today with a 58 year old man who had never voted in his life while he dropped off his ballot.

This is only one step in the campaign to keep Blackwater out of Potrero.  The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has jurisdiction.  They will be ruling next year after the environmental impact study is completed.  

There is plenty of work to do.  Sign the pledge over at the new site www.BlockBlackwater.com.  It is in beta form.  We will be upgrading it as the campaign rolls on.