Need help. trying to find out who this guy is/took pictures of protestors

[caligirl]

yesterday. Can anyone give guidance on how to dig for info on a fellow who was taking digital photographs at the Hayward Ca. protest of Gov Schwazenegger? He gave me his business card, National Notary Association member, with a Ca license, Castro Valley address. I am trying to figure out where he might or what he might be doing with the photos of us.

[ET Awful]

1. If he gave you a business card, what's stopping you from

calling him and asking him, or doing a google search on his name?

[caligirl]

3. I asked him yesterday for the info and he wouldn't say.

I asked for the web site he said the photos were for and he didn't want to say, he thn gave me his card.I did give this info to the teachers union and the nurses union. The nurses union said they were going to call him. I am wondering if he is connected to the bussiness groups in Arnolds PAC Citizens to Save California.

Did the google search, nothing, did reverse phone number , nothing.
I called the SOS, notary division and a notary with his name is registered in Castro Valley and I got the street name. Looks like a residential area, I searched the street nameand he didn't come up on the list.

I just went ahead and called the number ,got an automated machine response. No name or business name given.

[mcscajun]

2. Just about anybody can be a notary, so that doesn't give you much.

(I was a notary myself once, in NY State.) You don't have to join the National Notary Association. Perhaps someone here at DU is a member and can check out the Members Only Areas of their website.

But I'd start with the Castro Valley Address on www.anywho.com and see if anything turns up that matches what you have on the business card.

[seventythree]

4. call him and ask him

I'm not saying he'll tell you the truth, but it's the place to start since he gave you his business card. How fast he answers will tell you something. Then, of course, google him. Depending on the circumstances of your getting that card, you could start by mentioning that he did give it to you -- remind him, etc. and then play him along to see what you can find out. His business card says nothing more than he is a notary? There is a site where you can find out what people have given to political parties/candidates. Check there -- or with an address, figure out a precinct and get the voter rolls from the county clerk -- is he a registered r, assuming you don't have open primaries.
I once was videotaped giving a kick off union protest rally speech on the back of a truck -- I was told the unmarked van was the state police -- so I marched over and demanded to know who they were -- they were very cagey, but ultimately fessed up. (they had some very high tech equipment, not a little video camera!) I contacted the ACLU and was told it was legal. Good luck

[seventythree]

5. you all were ahead of me

as I typed. Get the PAC financial disclosures -- unless you are falling in the cracks for filing periods, you might find a check cut to him. Check money going in -- similar address? -- and then, money going out.

[caligirl]

6. Thank you all for the advice.

[applegrove]

7. Used to piss me off royally when you'd be at a protest and the police

would be videoing you. And then I'd go to a protest and you would seen jr. goons there just waiting to start a fight. And you think - if we make sure the protests are well behaved then perhaps we don't have to have any of this. Riot police weren't a normal thing it seems. Organize your protest so that there is no room for mistakes.

That being said - in this day and age I would wonder. I mean I have gone to protests and taken pictures of protests because it was important to me (I had been to previous portests and not taken picutres at the wonder of 100,000 and regretted before so this time I was ready). You see more folk walking around with their digital cameras out because 1) it doesn't cost you anything 2) if you film something good you get money!!

And then you hear about people being intimidated to vote in past elections.

I would just not worry about it. I was probably someone who just wanted to capture the excitement of the day. Forget about it!!