Marlton Aide Threatens To Drop Support Packwood Defender Now Advising County Commissioner

George Marlton’s campaign chairwoman is urging the Democrat to drop a political activist who has rallied for embattled U.S. Sen. Bob Packwood and Spokane County Coroner Dexter Amend.

If not, Virginia Goldman said, she will pull her support for Marlton.

Marlton, 50, was appointed to the Spokane County Commission in June and is running in Tuesday’s Democratic primary against John Roskelley.

Marlton has lost much of his support from organized labor following an incident involving profanities and feigned masturbation at the courthouse last week.

Goldman said Marlton “has lost his mind” for being advised by David Elton, 29, a Spokane political activist. She also said Marlton has pushed her aside and that she no longer is active in the campaign.

“George is a dear man. I’ve known him for 20 years,” Goldman said. “But he’s not thinking straight.”

Elton is a staunch defender of Packwood, the Oregon Republican whose Senate career is ending over allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior. Elton also supported Amend’s criticism of the gay community last month after a child murder victim allegedly had been sodomized by a male relative.

Elton has advised Marlton since the candidate infuriated some women’s advocates and labor unions in the past week.

Last Friday, Marlton returned to the courthouse after taping a campaign commercial under the direction of consultant Kay McGlocklin, owner of Preferred Advertising.

Marlton walked into a meeting with Commissioner Steve Hasson, two county managers and a Spokesman-Review reporter. Elton was not in attendance.

The candidate launched into a flurry of scatological and sexual references and then told the men that McGlocklin had offered him oral sex if the commercial went well.

McGlocklin, saying she was “sick to my stomach,” subsequently resigned from Marlton’s campaign.

Elton “butted into” the commercial taping, McGlocklin said Thursday, and told a nervous Marlton to “smile and think about sex.”

Elton told KXLY-TV earlier this week that McGlocklin had mentioned oral sex so Marlton would laugh and be more comfortable on camera.

Elton relayed a similar account Wednesday night to a meeting of Spokane County Courthouse Employees Local 1553. After Elton’s account of the taping of the commercial, the union overwhelmingly voted to keep its endorsement of Marlton.

But the Spokane Labor Council, which represents 73 other unions and more than 14,000 members, yanked its endorsement Wednesday night.

“She (McGlocklin) was trying to get him to smile,” Elton told a KXLY-TV news reporter on tape. “He was very nervous. She is the one who was trying to make George feel comfortable with sexual innuendo and jokes.”

McGlocklin denies saying anything inappropriate. KAYU cameraman D.W. Clark, who shot Marlton’s commercial, said McGlocklin made no sexual references at all.

Campaign manager Goldman said Marlton twice admitted to her that McGlocklin never had mentioned anything inappropriate but that Elton was advising him to “lie” to save his campaign.

“I said, ‘George, you can’t drag somebody else (McGlocklin) down with you,”’ Goldman said.

Elton said he has not told Marlton to lie. “I was at the taping of the commercial. I heard what was said. I support George Marlton,” he said Thursday.

Marlton would not discuss the profanity episode Thursday but said he had paid Elton $100 for a poll. He also wrote Elton a general letter of reference under a county letterhead Aug. 28.

“He just wants to help me,” Marlton said.

Elton’s business card states that his firm, Elton Research & Political Services, offers “damage control.”

According to court records, Elton is on 12 months’ probation after having been arrested in May for driving while his license was suspended.

He said Thursday he was unaware of any legal problems and is checking to clear up any potential problem.

Elton recently was host of a political talk show one hour a week for five weeks on KSBN business radio 1230 AM. Station managers said Elton paid them $1,000 for the air time.

After he quit paying, “we terminated him,” a producer said.

Last month, police escorted Elton from a human-rights rally decrying anti-homosexual remarks made by the county coroner. Elton held up a sign stating “Amend’s right.”

Packwood’s office wrote Elton a letter of reference July 18, calling him “a loyal supporter … during some difficult times, when others with a longer record of friendship have turned their backs.”

Packwood spokesman Matt Evans said Elton volunteered for the 1992 campaign and has been a zealous defender.

He’s sort of taking on a crusade for the senator,” Evans said. “He (Elton) is a great guy. I like him personally. He’s very committed.”

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