Eyman backers express anger over lies

Some see role for initiative kingpin; others say he's done

PATRICK CONDON, THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA -- Cornelis Bakker donated $300 to the Tim Eyman-sponsored Initiative 747 campaign last year.

When reports first surfaced several months ago that Eyman was diverting some of the campaign money into his own pocket, Bakker e-mailed the initiative kingpin and asked him directly: Are all donations spent on the campaign?

"His answer was yes," said Bakker, a commercial fisherman who lives in Olympia. "Unfortunately, he wasn't totally forthcoming with the truth."

Now that Eyman has admitted publicly that he lied, "I might ask for my money back," Bakker said Monday.

Bakker said he still believes in Eyman's quest to limit Washington taxes. If Eyman continues to push initiatives and fully discloses any earnings he takes off the top, Bakker said, "I'd probably write him five times the check in the future."

As his fame and notoriety grew with each successful initiative, Eyman's supporters and detractors came to view him almost as another branch of government. The watch salesman from Mukilteo set forth a clear anti-tax agenda that was often at odds with elected officials.

As word of Eyman's mea culpa spread across the Capitol on Monday, elected leaders such as Gov. Gary Locke and House Speaker Frank Chopp passed up opportunities to bash the man who himself rarely missed an opportunity to lampoon politicians as liars and cheats.

"I'm not interested in talking about Mr. Eyman," said Locke, in comments relayed by his spokesman, Pearse Edwards.

Some South Sound supporters of Eyman's causes were not quite as diplomatic.

"I think he's an idiot," said Matthew Loutherback, who donated $200 to the Initiative 747 campaign. "He's done. He needs to be done. If we as conservatives are going to cast stones about ethics and morals when it comes to Democrats and liberals, then we've got to hold our own people to at least the same standard, if not a higher one."

Loutherback won't ask for his money back, though, saying he's happy about the changes in law brought about by Eyman initiatives.

Port of Olympia Commissioner Paul Telford has donated to Eyman initiatives in recent years, including $950 for Initiative 747. A longtime fiscal watchdog, Telford said he'd had concerns recently that Eyman was up to something.

"I guess it's just sad," Telford said. "He's done a great service, but this just besmirches him."

All of Eyman's supporters contacted for this story agreed that all Eyman would have needed to do was admit that he needed some kind of salary for his efforts.

"All he had to do was be forward and say, 'Look, I can't do this -- my business is suffering, my family is suffering,' " Telford said. "I don't think anybody would have had a problem with that."

But no such indication was ever made, according to Eyman's close associates.

"When we started this thing, we all made a gentleman's agreement," said Mike Fagan, a Spokane businessman who has helped organize all of Eyman's efforts since Initiative 695 in 1999. "We all agreed up front that it was going to be a volunteer operation."

Eyman did not return a call for comment Monday night.

Close associates

Eyman's close associates -- Fagan; Fagan's father, Jack, and Monte Benham of Kennewick, all said they were as shocked as anyone when the news of Eyman's confession broke Sunday night.

"I'm outraged. The thing that hurts is that he lied to me as much as anyone," said Benham, who is often credited by Eyman as equally integral to the success of his initiatives. "We went through a lot together."

Mike Fagan and Benham said they'd always understood that money left over from their initiatives went into two separate funds: One to cover expenses incurred by Eyman and other initiative organizers; and a contingency fund for unexpected costs and for future initiatives.

"There's a lot of trust and confidence that's been basically breached," Mike Fagan said. "I'm uncertain if I can work with Tim in the future."

Benham said he wants Eyman to pay back the money he took, putting it into a fund that will benefit the group's current effort, Initiative 776, as well as future initiatives.

While quick to castigate their ally for his ethics, Eyman's associates said the policy changes they pursued with him are still worthwhile and shouldn't suffer because of his judgment.

"It's never been people voting for Tim Eyman," Benham said. "It's always been people voting for our ideas."

Benham said he still sees a role for Eyman in future initiatives, though he's quick to add, with strict oversight of the funds he controls. Other associates are less certain. "It's way too early to tell," Fagan said.

Christian Sinderman, the political consultant who uncovered Eyman's latest cash transfer, said Eyman will taint any future initiative he tries to work on.

"What he's done is slap a big Surgeon General's warning on every future initiative that says, 'The sponsor of this initiative is a self-admitted liar,' Sinderman said. "How can people trust him?"

Sound Off at TheOlympian.com: Is Mr. Eyman's political career over?

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