Ex-mayor challenging Cawley will seek equal time, too

YAKIMA, Wash. — Mary Place plans to eventually ask for equal air time during her campaign against Councilman Micah Cawley, who hosts a country music show on KDBL 92.9 The Bull FM.

The former Yakima mayor said she hasn't done so yet because she and her campaign committee believe her Federal Communication Commission-regulated equal-time rights don't kick in until after the August primary election.

However, she said Friday she's willing to take another look at that interpretation.

According to Federal Communications Commission attorney Mark Berlin, Place could make a claim now, because she and Cawley are both assured spots on the general election ballot. They are the only candidates in their nonpartisan council race, so they won't even be on the primary ballot.

Cawley, who goes by "Cefus" during his four-hour weekday show, stayed on the air even after officially filing his candidacy papers June 2. But equal-time rights only go back seven days from the point they are asserted, so Cawley's on-air time from the first weeks of the campaign would not be counted toward the equal time available to Place.

Also, unlike council candidate Dave Ettl, who hosts a news talk show, Cawley is on the air for only a small portion of his show. He estimated that his actual air time is probably about 10 minutes per day, when he's introducing songs or making announcements. The rest is music and advertising, which would not count toward the equal-time total, Berlin said.

Pat Muir can be reached at 509-577-7693 or pmuir@yakimaherald.com.