Political Ads: "Some People Think I'm a Little Boring" by KPBS, on Flickr
Political Ads: Setting the Record Straight by KPBS, on Flickr
My vote for "most irresistible mailer to open" goes to Marty Block (D -78 th Assembly District) whose Education PAC-funded mailer encloses a new 42 cent stamp and encourages that it be used to mail in your ballot with a vote for ...guess who? & That stamp is yours to do with as you want, of course, and 42 cents is almost half a dollar. & He's not buying your vote, of course. &
Political Ads: Free Stamp by KPBS, on Flickr
My vote for "most desperate" mailer goes to Brian Maienschein (San Diego City Attorney candidate) who created a look-alike Republican elephant logo (with only 2 stars instead of the official 3) to solicit the Republican vote in a nonpartisan election when the local Republican party had chosen to endorse Jan Goldsmith instead.
Political Ads: Unofficial Republican Logo by KPBS, on Flickr
Then there are the hit pieces. The local GOP party hit back at Maienschein in one of those gloomy brown ads using phrases like "knowingly broke the law" and "betrayed our trust" framing a photo of the guilty-appearing candidate. & Not pretty. & The party also paid for the creepy "Two Faces of Steve Francis" mailer looking like two (San Diego mayoral candidate) Francis heads joined at the shoulders. Also not pretty. And the local labor council went after city attorney candidate Jan Goldsmith with a bullet hole-riddled flyer accusing JudgeGoldsmith of having a record. What? & Was he imprisoned at one time? & No. & The flip side tells of his voting record regarding assault weapons.
Political Ads: Hit Piece by KPBS, on Flickr
Political Ads: The Two Faces of Steve Francis by KPBS, on Flickr
Political Ads: A Record by KPBS, on Flickr
Finally, as you wonder whether there's any value in these self-serving direct mailers, mostly blaring emotional phrases and with limited information, I offer one classy attempt to educate the voters. It was paid for by the Committee to Elect Marshall Merrifield (a new name in City of San Diego politics) and it clearly compares the positions of the three candidates running for City Council District 1, complete with source material. & There's no apparent soliciting of votes for Merrifield, and, in fact, he provides his challengers' web sites as well as his own. The mailer demonstrates that all three look worthy of your consideration if you live in District 1, based on their professional experience and community service. So, the main decider should be their positions on the issues. & Maybe the Merrifield campaign is on to something. We'll know more after the votes are counted.
