It’s always nice to be right. I knew when we published this photo of last-minute campaigning that (a) candidate Glen Warren would be happy and (b) his opponent would not be.
Ronald Bravo campaigns for district court judge candidate Glen Warren in the early morning hours at the intersection of 40th Avenue and Tieton Drive. Bravo, who can't stand for long, has sat in the intersection an hour in the morning and hour in the evening on three days. He waves the sign in different directions, depending on how traffic is flowing. "You sit out here for a couple of cycles, you get this stuff worked out," he says.
The backstory: the day before each election day we look for a photo that says “election” and to remind people to vote. And at each election this is a challenge. By this time in the election cycle all our local candidates have usually finished doorbelling, speaking at civic gatherings, etc.
So, usually on the day before the election the only “vote reminder” photo is of the candidates standing on street corners waving signs (this has become a time-honored campaign tactic here in Yakima. Also, we vote by mail here in Yakima County so there’s no photos of vote preparation such as setting up voting booths, etc.).
Legislative candidate Michele Strobel waves at a passing motorist as she campaigns by waving a sign at the intersection of Englewood Avenue and 40th Avenue Aug. 9, 2010. Strobel is running against incumbent Norm Johnson in the 14th District.
But we want to, if possible, avoid being accused of favoritism toward one candidate or another.
So when I saw the scene of the older gentleman sitting down in an aluminum lawn chair in the pre-dawn hours in front of a fast-food restaurant I figured this was the shot. Sure, it included one candidate’s sign but the chair, the early-morning light, the setting and the fact it was a supporter and not the candidate himself made it an appropriate photo.
And as a bonus, the subject, Ronald Bravo, was a hoot to talk to. I spent as much time talking with him as shooting his photo.
And yes – I was right. Glen Warrn loved the photo and his opponent didn’t. And he told me so.
Apparently our photo did little to sway the electorate. Glen Warren lost the race.
–Gordon King
Picture This | seattletimes.com blog
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