May 6, 1998

A nick of a name is the name of the game

These days, when politicians buy ideas, opinions and attitudes wholesale from focus groups and poll takers, it's hard to figure out what is genuine. Is an idea something the candidate believes in sincerely because he himself has given deep thought to the subject, or is it something he does because some expert professional told him it will give him two percent more votes? How can a candidate whose only real priority is getting elected know how he feels on gun control, abortion, etc. before he's checked out how voters feel on the same? Often what he really wants so bad he can taste it is the power and perks of the office. He'll take potluck with whatever issues will get him there. Also he needs to know if he should display himself as a pompous J. Pierpont Morgan type person, or are you more likely to vote for good old Jack Morgan?

Mr. Checchi, a candidate for Governor, who made multi millions as a sharp, for all I know even ruthless, businessman, is on the ballot as "Al." Mr. Lungren,who is anxious to deprive the terminally ill of the comforts of marijuana, is "Dan."

The most likely top competitors for Attorney General are Bill, Mike and Dave. Hal and Tom want to be Insurance Commissioner. Chuck already is, and wants to stay. Another Tom has been our congressman for 18 years. In southern San Mateo County Ted wants to repeat as state senator. Jackie wants to take state Senator Kopp's place in Pacifica and the north county.

Does a candidate with a nickname have a better chance to get your vote? They must think so. I certainly prefer the friendly informality of Jackie Speier, rather than Karen Jacqueline Speier, but I would vote for her no matter what name was on the ballot.

On the other hand Dan Lungren or Daniel Lungren, the name doesn't matter. I won't vote for the man.

Some candidates who knew going in they had no chance are more formal. H. Joseph Perrin, Sr. is an American Independent candidate for U.S. Senate. I wonder if his friends call him Joe? How many votes would Tony Miller, Larry Reed or Tim Leslie lose as Anthony Miller, Timothy Leslie and Lawrence Reed? (All want to be Lieutenant Governor.)

I think the worst way to put your name on the ballot is try to have it both ways. Henry E. (Bud) Manzler and John C. "Chris" Haugen are Republicans competing against Democratic Congresswoman Anna Eshoo. Chris and Bud don't have a chance, but they ought to be Henry and John, or Chris and Bud.

Perhaps the most complicated name on the ballot is a supermarket clerk running for Secretary of State: Marisa Helene Palyvos-Story. If she gets more votes than Israel Feuer she will be the Peace and Freedom Party candidate for that office. Chances are she'll then lose to Bill. Bill Jones that is. Or possibly she will lose to Michela Alioto, if Bill Jones is just a bit too old shoe for the average voter. As incumbent, though, he has the best chance.

I am curious just how many votes Bill and Al would have lost if they had run in 1992 as William Jefferson Clinton and Albert Gore, Jr.?

Paul Azevedo has seen many Pacifica elections come and go in the almost 35 years he has been voting in Pacifica and predicting Pacifica elections. Once in a while he even predicted correctly.