SNOHOMISH – Ah, the political campaign season.
In cities large and small, voters can expect to see nasty campaign fliers, accusations of sign-stealing and commercials all but predicting the end of the world delivered in deep, looming voices.
In Snohomish, though, voters are poring over a different sort of campaign mailing before the Nov. 8 City Council election.
They’ve received “A Fairy Tale About Snohomish and Political Cartoon Coloring Book.”
Written and illustrated by City Councilman Larry Countryman, a political foe of Mayor Liz Loomis, the 16-page coloring book was mailed to 2,800 voting households.
a campaign mailing written and illustrated by City Councilman Larry Countryman, who opposes Mayor Liz Loomis re-election.
Loomis said she’s seen the coloring book, which includes unflattering caricatures portraying her as a crusader on a soapbox horse, as a queen, and in curlers and a bathrobe.
It also includes eight pages of criticism of her leadership of the fairy tale city of “Snoloomish,” though her name is never printed in the story.
“I’m turning the other cheek and continuing to campaign with positive messages for what I have accomplished for the community,” Loomis said.
Countryman, whose own seat is safe until 2007, said he created the coloring book in the hopes it will hurt Loomis’ chances for re-election. He supports Loomis’ opponent, Doug Thorndike.
“I really am concerned and want to see Liz Loomis not going further,” Countryman said.
Citizens for Open Government, a group of business owners and other political opponents of Loomis, paid $1,500 to produce and mail the book, Countryman said.
Thorndike said he has nothing to do with the publication and thinks it’s no different than any political satire.
“I don’t think it’s unusual or negative,” Thorndike said.
Loomis noted that the coloring book includes inaccurate information. For example, it says the council led by Loomis abolished town festivals such as a motorcycle show and Kla Ha Ya Days.
In reality, the city had both festivals this year.
“It’s a fairy tale,” Countryman said. But overall the tale shows what’s really happening in Snohomish, he said.
“Even though it’s a fairy tale, it’s absolutely true,” he said.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@ heraldnet.com.
This drawing appears in “A Fairy Tale About Snohomish and Political Cartoon Coloring Book,” a campaign mailing written and illustrated by City Councilman Larry Countryman, who opposes Mayor Liz Loomis’ re-election.
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