Binders, Brews and Buttons: The Best from Election Night

I traversed the election gatherings around downtown Tuesday night, spotting a few moments that rose above the rest. Many races are still too close to call, but the definitive results are in for the best of a weird night.

Best Topical Costume

A few weeks ago, Michael MacDonald heard Mitt Romney’s much-lampooned statement that in order to increase the gender diversity in his administration as governor of Massachusetts, he’d been provided “binders full of women” to peruse.

Thus, MacDonald’s Halloween costume was born. He crafted a binder with movable pages out cardboard, filled it with photographs of women and pasted on pithy sayings about equality. On Oct. 31, he told his wife he’d be back in an hour, and headed down to Sunshine Company, a bar near his home in Ocean Beach.

Hours later, he was in the running for the bar’s costume contest. He placed third, and decided to give his costume an encore run — the Election Central party at Golden Hall. He was a hit, attracting throngs of picture-snapping fans.

It’s not his first award-winning political costume. He once disguised himself as Ronald Reagan, in a tuxedo, carrying a pole like the ones state delegates tote at conventions. At the top of the pole was a set of speakers connected to a Walkman. (“I hate to date myself,” he winced.) The speakers played “Hail to the Chief” and “Stars and Stripes Forever” and MacDonald took first place in the costume contest at the Elephant Bar in La Jolla.

“That was probably 20 years ago,” he said.

MacDonald said he doesn’t always vote Democrat. But he said he doesn’t believe that giving breaks to wealthy people helps people like him. He seeks candidates who care about the middle class.

“I get more money, and guess what? I’m going to buy more cardboard for signs,” he said, gesturing to his cardboard-covered torso. “And I’m going to take my wife out for breakfast.”

Best Juxtaposition Between a Chandelier and a Rallying Cry

From the Lincoln Club party for conservative candidates at the U.S. Grant.

Best Reasons to Root for Races

I caught up with County Supervisor Greg Cox near the screen where results were trickling in. I asked him what races he was watching. Obviously, the race between Steve Danon and Dave Roberts to fill a seat on the board with Cox had his attention. “I think it’s going to go down to the wire,” he said.

But while that was in the air, he made a couple of jokes that cracked me up.

One race was the City Council in Chula Vista, where his wife, Cheryl Cox, is mayor. Would the council be one she could work with?

“For my own sanity, in my own home, I need to make sure that happens,” he said.

And he said he’d wished the third candidate from the primary had a better showing — Carl Hilliard, the mayor of Del Mar.

Cox, apparently, relishes the chance to tell people he’s the newest member of the Board of Supervisors (he’s been on for 18 years come January) and also the youngest. With any new member, he couldn’t claim to be the newest member anymore, but Hilliard would’ve allowed him to keep claiming his “youngest” title.

Best Hat

I asked Daniel Smiechowski to tell me about his fuzzy, furry, caramel-brown hat.

His uncle gave it to him, he said. His uncle went to Spain to fight Francisco Franco in 1938, he said. His uncle was a socialist, and so is he, Smiechowski said. He’s delighted Obama won.

Best Swag

A button proclaiming Sanders aide Gerry Braun’s favorite saying about his boss. It has Sanders’ face on it, and declares “BEST MAYOR EVER.”

Best Segues

The band playing at the Democrats’ party in a Westin ballroom was an acoustic, three-piece version of an Encinitas band called Liquid Blue. When I walked in, Obama had already won the presidential race. The band’s frontman, Scott Stephens, told the crowd that the band figured that if Romney had won, they’d have moved to Canada.

They thanked Obama for “giving us one reason to stay here,” and transitioned into a Tracy Chapman tune.

The segues kept coming. Next up was a chorus of “Na Na Na Na. Na Na Na Na. Hey Hey Hey. Goodbye… MITT.”

At the end of the set, Stephens thanked the crowd and tried to rally some optimism for the Democratic races yet to be decided, like the one for mayor. He hoped Filner would pull it out.

Then he announced an upcoming gig this Saturday at the Grand Del Mar, owned by U-T San Diego owner Doug Manchester, who’s a big Carl DeMaio supporter.

Best Flip-Flop on an Espoused Drink Preference

Yesterday, Mayor Jerry Sanders’ spokesman Darren Pudgil asked his Twitter followers for help choosing an election night drink.

Decision 2012: What should my Election Night drink be: Key Lime Martini or Pineapple Mojito?

— Darren Pudgil (@Pudgil) November 6, 2012

I caught up with Pudgil at Election Central. He was drinking a Stone IPA.

I’m Kelly Bennett, reporter for Voice of San Diego. You can reach me directly at kelly.bennett@voiceofsandiego.org or 619.325.0531.

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