3/3/04: Eureka, CA - In a victory of the voters over Maxxam Inc., District Attorney Paul Gallegos will keep his job and continue with prosecution of a fraud case filed last year against the Texas-based corporation. The special recall election brought voters to the polls in higher than usual numbers. Defeating the recall by more than 61%, Humboldt County residents sent the message that Maxxam cannot bully their way with high priced recalls of elected officials who would hold them accountable.

The recall was the most expensive election in Humboldt County history. The $300,000 thrown in by Maxxam was used to gobble airtime in an advertising blitz that residents called "misleading," "scary," "insulting," and "pornographic." But considering Maxxam siphons $100 million per year out of Humboldt, a mere $300,000 is pocket change. And with attention diverted to the whole dirty affair, forested hillsides were being stripped for cash in areas recognized as highly impaired.