Maer Seibert cracked me up yesterday, the way she’s running her campaign in Ward 1.
She’s inviting her opponent, Councilman Jason Wiener, to an event at the Press Box. Wiener is attending. I don’t think they’ll hold hands and sing “Kumbaya,” but still.
It’s the most unconventional campaign. I don’t think Seibert will win because Wiener is a strong incumbent, but Seibert has been a breath of fresh air in Missoula City Council races.
I hope tons of folks go to her First Friday auction, and she raises lots of money for her nonprofits. I think she even wants to raise money for one of Wiener’s favorite nonprofits.
Oooh. Guess what? I’m overhearing a conversation in the newsroom, and I think it’s about this editorial we ran about Councilwoman Renee Mitchell’s cry that Mayor John Engen should give her money even though she doesn’t support him.
“I know if you’re a coach and you get a team, you’ve got to work with all your athletes,” Mitchell said. “If you’re a mayor and you have a council, you should work with all of them, and it’s not happening.”
According to her, it’d be evidence he can play well with all members of the council team. According to a political scientist, it’d be a dim move.
“… In the real world, you support the people who support you,” (University of Montana political science professor Jim) Lopach said. “I think it would be foolish, unless you have some ulterior motive, to support people who have been a pain in the backside to you.”
What a fun quote, right? It’s awesome when people don’t pull punches.
– Keila Szpaller
