Ultimately the quirky campaign worked, with Vinick’s ties to Santa Paula revealed on “The West Wing” website and mentions later of his hometown on the show.Officially the campaign is over, and although Vinick, a Republican, was appointed Secretary of State to incoming President Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits), Brookes wishes Vinick had won the nation’s top job. “Secretary of State is a very high honor, very prestigious, but it’s still disappointing... we would rather he had a higher profile elected position. That’s the way it goes in politics... and TV.”Santa Paula’s campaign to make Vinick its own ranged over 53 weeks longer than any television season, probably, in history. “We started it on a Monday and ended it on a Monday exactly one year and one week later,” said Brookes.Available for sale are two 30-inch square and one 36-inch square Vinick for President posters, the former “used as the backdrop for CNN’s live interview with Mayor Krause” that highlighted the city’s campaign. “Those have been in the Chamber ever since.” The other poster “Has been around town,” as needed, including at the Santa Paula California Oil Museum - the Favorite Son’s favorite childhood hangout - and in the window of the under construction South Paseo.Also available are three banners (the 10-footers that decorated the Depot).The posters are selling for $50 each, and the banners for $80 each. “That’s how much it cost to get them made, but they were the ones used in the campaign... we had people come down to take pictures of the sign and now they can own the sign.”Brookes said that although shipping is available for Vinick memorabilia, it is not available for the signs and banners. Call 525-5561 for more information.
Campaign lost, but loyal Vinick supporters can purchase banners, signage
May 17, 2006
Santa Paula News
He might have lost the presidential election, but Santa Paula still has a soft spot for “Favorite Son” candidate Senator Arnold Vinick, a man of ideals who touched the hearts - and sometimes the wallets - of loyal supporters.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesHe might have lost the presidential election, but Santa Paula still has a soft spot for “Favorite Son” candidate Senator Arnold Vinick, a man of ideals who touched the hearts - and sometimes the wallets - of loyal supporters. Aside from the Vinick for President T-shirts, buttons and bumper stickers, now up for sale are campaign signs and the banners that graced his campaign headquarters at the historic Depot.“The banners came down less than a week ago,” said Chamber of Commerce Manager Ken Brookes. “People have called, e-mailed and come in to buy all the items, but the signs and banners for sale is something brand new.”Vinick is the fictional Republican presidential candidate played by Alan Alda on “The West Wing,” the acclaimed NBC television series winding down to its last episode to be broadcast May 14.Vinick was adopted by Santa Paula a little more than a year ago after his presidential campaign kickoff remarks included the nugget that he had grown up in a citrus producing area of California. Then Mayor Mary Ann Krause wrote a letter to “The West Wing” staff, including Story Editor Lauren Schmidt, asking that Vinick be declared a product of Santa Paula, and included a box of oranges.After receiving a nice letter of thanks from Schmidt, the lobbying was on. The City Council officially declared Vinick a “Favorite Son,” the Depot campaign headquarters had a gala patriotic opening, and Vinick for President items were prepared.There was plenty of publicity about Santa Paula’s quest to make Vinick their own, and City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz started sending Schmidt weekly postcards of Santa Paula as well as historical and contemporary information about the city. At the dedication of Vinick’s Depot campaign headquarters, “Wally said ‘People will think we’re nuts...’ and I said ‘Wing nuts...’ “ Brookes noted with a laugh.
