Contrary to what you may have heard, or what Tim Eyman tries to imply in his seemingly endless stream of e-mails to supporters and reporters, State Auditor Brian Sonntag is not endorsing Eyman's Initiative 985.

"I am not endorsing or opposing Initiative 985, or any initiative," Sonntag told me about 10 minutes ago.

I caught him driving to Vancouver for a speech.

Eyman has been portraying I-985 as largely an implementation of the performance audit that Sonntag's office did about a year or so back. So I asked Sonntag point blank: "Do you consider I-985 an implementation of your audit?"

His answer: "No."

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Eyman seems to be trying to tap into the general goodwill that the public holds for Sonntag, who also happens to be the darling of the conservative talk-radio circuit. And talk radio listeners are a big part of Eyman's base of support.

But some of Eyman's e-mails tend to overstate Sonntag's view of I-985. So, I asked Sonntag to clarify a few things.

Did your audit recommend that carpool lanes be opened in off-peak hours?

"No. Carpool lanes were discussed, but that wasn't a recommendation," Sonntag said. "In fact, the recommendation in the audit report was that HOV lanes should be completed. They should continue to work on them."

As carpool lanes?

"Yes. They didn't make any recommendation about opening them (to general traffic)," he said.

(I-985 would open all carpool lanes and ramps to general traffic during off-peak hours, that is, except between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

Sonntag did say a couple of provisions in I-985 were discussed in his congestion audit. Synchonizing traffic lights in cites was one of them, he said. "That's something that could improve traffic flow," Sonntag said.

Did you or your audit recommend putting 1/2 percent of any highway construction project or transportation-related facility into a Congestion Relief Account?

"No. All the revenue pieces (of I-985) came out of his own head," Sonntag said. "I think he's (Eyman) even said that."

(I-985 would put that 1/2 percent into the account. Eyman admitted that when he wrote I-985, he mistakenly thought that 1/2 percent of all highway construction project monies were earmarked for public art. That, of course, is not true, which makes for some misleading and awkwardly worded parts of the initiative.)

"The audit did not address red-light cameras," Sonntag added. "That's his deal."

(I-985 would take all the money from red-light camera operations, which use camera pictures as evidence to support a ticket, and put it into the same congestion relief account.)

"Our audit said the HOT (high-occupancy toll) lanes and tolling stuff -- that all should be added into the mix, but our report didn't specifically talk about or recommend new tolls or fees."

Sonntag said what he wanted to accomplish most from the audit was for "the 20-some transportation authorities -- and initiative promoters --to continue to look at these operations as we move forward.

"That's what the reports should do, create and stir conversation and discussion over broad policy matters," Sonntag said.