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James Heddle, part of a social justice documentary filmmaking team with his wife Mary Beth Brangan, passed away in November 2025. The Free Press will forever be indebted to Jim and Mary Beth for documenting the election integrity movement that began after the stolen 2004 presidential election in Ohio.
In the chaotic days following the W Bush “victory” in 2004, Jim and Mary Beth joined dozens of activists in Columbus to help in the Free Press struggle to expose election fraud and refute the results. Their video “A Little Light’ll Do Ya” depicted the January 5 challenge to Ohio’s electoral votes in Congress. Jim and Mary Beth continued to partner with the Free Press and Ohio’s election integrity community for the next three election cycles. They covered election conferences, election protection activities, and election-related lawsuits brought by the Free Press’ Ohio Litigation project.
Jim wrote an essay for inclusion in the Free Press 50th anniversary book (yet to be published), remembering: “We were honored to be behind the camera when Bob’s filing for a court injunction against last minute electronic patches for the voting machines blocked the attempted rigging in the 2012 election. That foiled Karl Rove’s attempted hijack and his consternation was deliciously caught on Fox News TV the night of the election, saving it for the Obama win, as documented in our video report ‘SWING STATE - How the Fix was Nixed in Ohio 2012.’”
I [Bob} knew Jim while I attended Grand Valley State Colleges where he taught filmmaking in the 70s. It was a coincidence and a blessing that he came into our lives years later to record for history what happened in Ohio. Together our connection resulted in dozens of videos and we became good friends along the way. Jim was a brilliant thinker and a talented writer as well. We have many of his articles posted on the Free Press website.
Jim and Mary Beth ran the Ecological Options Network that provides “Grassroots Movement support and media support for those working for planetary and human rights through deep democracy.” As a filmmaking team, they recently won numerous national and international awards for their documentary “SOS - The San Onofre Syndrome: Nuclear Power’s Legacy” that chronicles “a community’s victory over leaking reactors, only to confront a chilling reality - deadly radioactive waste stranded next to a rising sea. The film portrays San Onofre as a microcosm of a global problem - the mismanagement of lethal radioactive waste.”
Jim’s good work throughout his life has forever changed the consciousness of the planet, We will miss his fierce dedication to bringing truth to power and his kind, gentle spirit. We are sure Mary Beth will carry on his and their joint legacy.
Examples of their election integrity videos can be found on their Election Protection Youtube Playlist - 66 videos:
