The Californian from Salinas, California • 1

Election2006j Poll hours: 7 a.m. 8 p.m. Polling places: www.smartvoter.org Results tonight: www.thecalifornian.com WW Today's forecast6B Areas of clouds, then sun ma.o -X, The nO1 Salinas mmMprnm Tuesday, June 6, 2006 District 2 supervisors race draws interest OBITUARY Bataan veteran Muther dies Salinas farmer was one of just 47 survivors of death march -'Si iiilmnt By DAWN WITHERS The Salinas Californian Despite a hotly contested local supervisors race and a tax measure, Monterey County elections officials say they expect low voter turnout today. Election2006f if Norm Duran, left, and Acting Registrar of Voters Claudio By KATHARINE BALL The Salinas Californian Frank Muther, a longtime Salinas dairy farmer who as a soldier survived one of World War II's worst atrocities, died Thursday at his Salinas home. He was 86.

4 -j Valenzuela, Born in absentee ballots Mondav at California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson estimates statewide voter turnout will hover around 38 percent. Locally, the numbers are expected to reflect the statewide trend, said Claudio Valenzuela, acting Monterey County Registrar of Voters. With 51 percent of registered county voters requesting absentee ballots to vote by mail, Valenzuela said he See TURNOUT, Page 3A 0HUHE (j the Monterey Oakland, he came to Salinas at age 4 and graduated from Salinas High School in 1938. As a lounty Elections Department RICHARD GREENTHE SALINAS CALIFORNIAN in Salinas. Frank Muther PRIMARY ELECTION DAY DETAILS ELECTIONS: Follow this news topic at www.thecalifornian.com.

MORE vote at your assigned polling place or at the Monterey County Elections Department You will need to turn in your absentee ballot to an election worker before voting at the polling place. If you don't have your absentee ballot, you can still vote on a provisional ballot but your vote will not be counted until Monterey County election officials determine that you only voted once in the POLLING HOURS: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. FIND POLLING PLACES: Visit www.smartvoter.

org20060606camnt or look on the back of your sample ballot. If you don't have a sample ballot or access to the Internet, call the Monterey County Elections Department at 796-1499 or toll-free at (866) 887-9274. ELECTIONS OFFICE: All registered voters can vote from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Monterey County Elections Department at 1370 S.

Main Suite in the Nob Hill Foods shopping center in Salinas. ABSENTEE BALLOTS: Absentee ballots can be turned into any Monterey County polling place by 8 p.m. Tuesday. If you are an absentee voter, you can election. All absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m.

today regardless of when they were postmarked, or they will not be counted. ELECTION RESULTS: Visit The Salinas Californian's Web site at www.thecalifornian.com beginning about 8 p.m. today for live updates, Final election results are expected late tonight and early Wednesday morning. OUR CHOICES: The recommendations of The Salinas Californian4B VOICES: Local residents offer views about the election3A 21-year-old soldier, he marched off in February 1941 with 104 of his fellow townsmen in Company 194th Tank Battalion of the U.S. Army, to serve his country.

In 1945, he would be one of the 47 survivors of the unit who would finally see home again, after enduring the Bataan Death March and years in Japanese slave-labor camps. Shortly after his return, he married Edna, his wife of 60 years. He fathered three children. And while he would find plenty of time in civilian Life to achieve prominence as a dairyman, he never forgot his fellow soldiers who perished. Muther made it a mission to establish a fitting memorial for them, a goal he finally achieved April 8 with the dedication of a monument at the Boronda Adobe on the northwestern edge of Salinas.

A "half-track" combat vehicle half-truck, half-tank sits on a pedestal that's emblazoned with bronze plaques describing Company C's heroic Strug- LEADERSHIP Ex-Senators: Balance freedom and security ABOUT THE INSTITUTE- Daschle, Danforth speak as part of Panetta Series United States, two former senators said Monday. The former senators, Tom Daschle and Jack Danforth, spoke with reporters at California State University, Monterey Bay, before the fourth and final installment of this year's Panetta Lecture Series, titled "How to Balance National Security and Freedom in our Democracy." See SENATORS, Page 5A See MUTHER, Page 5A The Leon Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy, established in 1998 by former Congressman Leon Panetta, seeks, in part, to inspire young people to become involved in public service. ing national security and individual freedoms in the By VICTOR CALDERON The Salinas Californian. SEASIDE The National Security Agency's domestic eavesdropping program illustrates the difficulty of balanc- MOREL RICHARD GREENTHE SALINAS CALIFORNIAN Former U.S. Sen.

Jack Danforth, right, speaks Monday at a news conference before the Panetta Lecture Series. Behind Danforth at former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle, left, and Leon Panetta. OBITUARY: Service times, information4A EDUCATION Index ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS Schools chief offers hope to students Business 6B Lotto 2A Calendar 4A Movies 2D Classifieds 40 Nation IB Comics 6C Obituaries 4A Community IE Sports 1C Editorials 4B TV 3D Legals 5E Weather 6B Living ID World IB local 2A jt I v- O'Connell talks in Lubbock, Texas, and a woman suspected of abducting the child was arrested.

Page IB NATION Rage is in our genes "Explosive disorder," a condition sometimes manifested in road rage, may be part of human biology, researchers say. Page IB NATION Debate triggers racism As the fighter over immigration reform drags on, an ominous undercurrent racism is becoming more pronounced. Page IB NATION Baby retrieved A missing 5-day-old baby was found Monday School Exit Exam and assure struggling students that help is on the way. Jack O'Connell, state superintendent of public instruction, toured classrooms at Alisal High School and then endorsed legislation that would help 42,000 seniors statewide finally pass the exam. See HOPE, Page 3A about high school exit exam By ROBERT SALONGA The Salinas Californian The state's schools chief visited Salinas on Monday to tout the success of the controversial California High '4090r07801 SCOTT MACDONALLV THE SALINAS CALIFORNIAN Vol 147.

No. 134 Copyr 2006 Th Californian is printed on recycled paper Jack O'Connell speaks Monday at Alisal High School in Salinas. HOME DELIVERY: 758-2000 Social A GUIDE TO THE SALINAS CALIFORNIAN Visit us zt Cdlifornton.com INSERTS AND ADVERTISERS 1 1 1 ii a tmtUmmim'.