Politician background checks uncover dirt

Background screenings have turned up a plethora of information that Washington state political candidates may prefer not be made public, the Associated Press reports. One example is Eric Strawn, who is running for mayor in Tenino. Despite a background check uncovering that he was charged with theft, bankruptcy and received a 90-day sentence for drug possession, Strawn seems unfazed. "We're all human here," he told the news source. "People do actually make mistakes in their past. I've overcame them. A lot of people like comeback stories." Kari Ilonummi, who is running for mayor of Arlington, believes in the importance of background checks despite the fact that a screening revealed he had charges for trespassing, driving with a suspended license and possession of marijuana in his past. "We need transparency," he told the media outlet. "There are a lot of secrets and a lot of games (in politics). We need people aware of what they are getting." The OC Weekly reports that former California Assemblyman Todd Spitzer will undergo a background check in order to become a member of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Reasons behind a previous stress-related leave of absence have some residents curious about what a screening might uncover.