Kucinich

July 2, 2019

Rep. Dennis Kucinich ran for US President in 2004 and 2008. Never say die. I have come to regard this bumper sticker as one of the icons of the town. I mean, we're the place where a huge photo of Gov. Rosellini hung in City Hall for three decades after he left office.

Vote Here

Aug. 7, 2018

Voting by mail has killed off the voting booth and the social ritual of filling out your ballot on the spot.

I poked my head in the door of the VFW Hall on Primary Day 2018 only to see a vast empty room save for two dour senior citizens sitting at a forlorn table with a big box on the surface in which voters could place their ballots. I felt like I had disturbed their nap and they were rather cross about it.

Buffoon & his money laundering partner

July 25, 2018

I always enjoy perusing the Post Office bulletin board. Occasionally a citizen will make their views on politics known before it is swiftly removed either by Post Office personnel or someone who disagrees.

Generally these political expressions are aimed at local governance. Milton Poulos has been gone for awhile now, but he was usually good for posting items regarding national issues as seen through a socialist lens. McCleary folks from all parts of the political spectrum have made their opinions known in this fashion over the years.

Here are the results of the Nov. 2016 presidential election in McCleary precinct 501 not counting write-ins:

663 votes
Trump, Republican: 344 - 51.88%
Clinton, Democrat: 252 - 38%
Johnson, Libertarian: 45 - 6.78%
Stein, Green: 14 - 2.11%
Castle, Constitution: 5 - 0.75%
Kennedy, Socialist Workers: 2 - 0.30%
La Riva, Party for Socialism and Liberation: 1 - 0.15%

What I found fascinating about McCleary and the 2016 election was the fact that as I walked around town I never saw one single yard sign for Trump, although I did spot a couple bumper stickers. There was only one yard sign I saw for Clinton. Jill Stein (Green) and Gary Johnson (Libertarian), on the other hand, had plenty of signs up in public intersections.

When it comes to third parties, I regard anything 5% or over as impressive, so the Libertarians did pretty well in McCleary.

Morty the Dog visits the McCleary Community Center

Nov. 15, 1995. Morty the Dog, who ran for McCleary Mayor in 1999 as a write-in candidate, pays a visit to the McCleary Community Center. [Photo taken of old VHS video]

Morty continues to garner write-in votes for various elective offices in Grays Harbor County to this day.

http://www.kxro.com/mickey-mouse-will-not-grays-harbor-county-commissioner/

Vote! Yes

Feb. 12, 2018

Home-made election campaign signs are the best.

An unweeded garden that has gone to seed

Oct. 10, 2016. Things rank and gross in nature possess it merely.

Elect Rick Hole, Assessor, Neither Party

Oct. 22, 2010. This huge sign was at the west entrance to town. I love the "Neither Party" concept. He was elected to office in the 2010 election cycle and served one term.

Write-in JOE For Mayor of McCleary

Oct. 14, 2013. Seen at the east entrance to town.

Scoop was here

Oct. 10, 2010. The site of many community events. U.S. Sen. Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson held a press conference here while eating dinner at the same time in the late 1950s, I think. Scoop was a presidential candidate in 1972 and 1976.

A brick in front of the Library

Sept. 29, 2010.

Morty the Dog ran as a write-in candidate for McCleary Mayor in 1999 and gained, from what I understand, about 5% of the vote. Not bad for a cartoon character.

Campaign season, 2012

Aug. 1, 2012

Election time

Political button display, McCleary Timberland Library, Mar. 15, 2016