County Commissioner Dave Unruh is decked out in his navy blue vest, waiting impatiently for some results. He has a large group of supporters at House of Schwan. They are surrounded by Budweiser signs and some are actually having a Bud.
When someone said, “Next time you run. . .,” Unruh responded, “There won’t be a next time.”
He’s running against Democrat Betty Arnold. At this point, Betty is wishing he hadn’t run this time.
To be fair, I’ve not yet made it into Raj Goyle’s watch party, so it’s a little early to start complaining.
Instead, I’m out here on East Harry, desperately seeking a parking space. Preferably near a light. Preferably not a football field or two away from the door. It’s not happening.
I’m guessing there must be a lot more room inside than in the parking lot. That’s because I think — well, I thought — Raj learned a lesson from the last watch party when his friends and family PACKED the Anchor and not everyone could get in.
Raj, I’m sorry, but I gotta tell you …… there are a lot more venues in town with plenty of room inside AND in the parking lot. Call me. I’m a business reporter. I know places.
Mike Pompeo said earlier today that his volunteers had gone nuts planning this party, and he was right. They tended to every detail, including the sunflowers on the tables.
Hangar One at Jabara has a ton of Republicans eating and drinking , but no Mike or Susan or Nick so far.
Toni Shadid, who has catered Mike’s functions from the day he entered the race said, “I could write Mike’s name everyday for the next three years and that’s how many times I’ve written his name on a cookie.”
I wish the Pompeos would get here; I want to see what Susan is wearing.
Wichita City Council member Jim Skelton, who is running for County Commission against incumbent Gwen Welshimer, chose the Scotch & Sirloin for his watch party for one reason: That’s what he’s done before.
“That’s not a very scientific answer,” he says, though he adds that the service is good.
I have these random thoughts after popping into the party:
Is the Scotch always this busy on a Tuesday? And if so, exactly how much money are Sonny and Lindy making? Is it too late for me to invest?
And who knew Skelton is so tall? How tall, you ask? “76 inches,” he says, clearly having fielded the question before. That’s 6 feet 4 inches, if you’re curious.
The party, in a back room off of the main dining area, is a subdued affair with mostly families sitting together, eating and watching returns.
There are clusters of businessmen, too. There’s Gary Oborny and Chad Stafford of Occidental Management. Oborny says he’s going to stop by County Commissioner Dave Unruh’s party at the House of Schwan, too, because local races are important.
“Jobs are the No. 1 answer to what’s going to happen,” Oborny says.
Other notables in the crowd: Dave Wells of Key Construction and Greg Farris, who was leaning in looking like he was about to tell Dave something really interesting — right until I walked up and he saw it was me.
The place to be for those of the Republican persuasion is the Wichita Area Builders Association on north Main, where practically every local candidate (minus Mike Pompeo) is awaiting election results and chowing down on a buffet of meatballs and mini-cupcakes and drinking Bud Light and white Zinfandel.
A long list of candidates is here, including Phil Hermanson, Steve Huebert, Brenda Landwehr, Dan Heflin and Joe McLeland. Also partying here: Local supporters of Sam Brownback, Jerry Moran and Ron Estes.
Steve Brunk, whose running unopposed for the 85th District House seat, says he’s spent campaign season advising a crop of newcomer candidates, including Les Osterman and Joseph Scapa, also here. His advice: Get out there and press the flesh.
“You really have to go out and meet the people and earn the right to get elected,” he said. He then added, with a laugh, that if any of those candidates lost, he had nothing to do with it.
There’s a reason Jo Ann Pottorff is having her House District 83 watch party at her home off Woodlawn, and that reason is her husband.
“I don’t want to brag, but I’d rather eat at home,” Chef Gary Pottorff says.
For the folks invited here tonight — the party starts at 8 — there is a feast awaiting you. Brisket. All kinds of Lebanese cuisine. Cheese balls!
Among the party goers will be, sure enough, Pottorff’s competitor, Democrat Sean Amore. She used my cell phone to call and invite him when she heard he was joking about coming by. I could practically hear his protests by listening to Pottorff’s side of the conversation.
“Heaven’s no! Everybody’s welcome,” she insisted.
More on their reunion later.
In the meantime, if you’re partying at home, you absolutely must try Jo Ann’s blue cheese date cheese ball.
Just mix cream cheese (it calls for a tablespoon of buttermilk, too, but Pottorff, showing her sensible style, says, “Well, that’s stupid. Why buy buttermilk for that?”), blue cheese, minced dates and minced shallots. Roll it all in a ball and toss with chopped parsley and roasted walnuts.
So what does Pottorff call this scrumptious concoction of a blue cheese date cheese ball?
“Blue cheese date cheese ball.”
Democrats Betty Arnold, who is running against Dave Unruh for County Commission in District 1, and Gwen Wilshimer, who is running against Jim Skelton in District 5, chose the Showcase Lounge at 3926 E. 13th for their party. For me that building will always be The Flicker.
The crowd wasn’t large, but the food from the new restaurant next door reminded me that I haven’t had dinner. For you foodies, the restaurant, Simply Soul II, owned by Ebony Beach, opens Wednesday morning. Gwen was sitting at big round tables of supporters having dinner. Her best friend, Betty Rounds, was sitting next to her. Betty made a cross necklace of silver and gold many years ago, and she loans it to Gwen every time Gwen runs for office. “It’s brought me some good days,” Gwen said.
Supporter Sondra Luke wanted to talk fashion, but said, “Democrats are going to do better than anyone thinks. They’re going to be surprised. Democrats are going to win the House and the Senate.” As my mom always said, and still does, “We’ll see.”
This stupid computer has to be plugged into an outlet. Going to the next party and in search of an outlet.
Betty was running around making sure everyone ate. I swear she nearly sent a plate of food with me.
This is the new picture photo editor Brian Corn took for this blog this afternoon, apparently after someone realized they still had the picture from 2008, which is in the header of this blog.
I think this one’s nicer, don’t you? My how we’ve improved since 2008.
Peggy with the spread she cooked -- barbecue, pumpkin cake, marshmallow salad and more. Mmmmmmm. Election night eats.
After a mad dash from my daughter’s ballet class to the house of my friend who’s watching her tonight, I’m in the newsroom getting some last minute refreshers on the candidates I’m covering and their platforms. Carrie was nice enough to keep me partying in Old Town this time. During the primaries, I probably drove 354 miles around the east side. Tonight, I’ll stop at Rain and the Pump House, among other venues.
I also stopped in the newsroom to partake of our killer election night buffet, made by Peggy Smith. It’s really the only reason I agreed to work.
Anyway, this election cycle I have my new iPhone 4, which has a flash, so I should be even more equipped to post pictures from my parties. We shall see.
And I’m off!
Polls haven’t closed yet, but House District 83 Democratic candidate Sean Amore acknowledges that he entered a race against one of the most well-liked politicians in the state in Republican Jo Ann Pottorff with little chance to win against her. And that’s even though “my ego is pretty limitless.”.
“I haven’t started apartment hunting in Topeka, let’s just say.”
Amore, who does not pronounce his name with a long e at the end, is dining with a few friends and family at Mike’s Wine Dive in College Hill. It’s good that his crowd is intimate because there is hardly any parking here, which is why this diner wound up with a $30 parking ticket just for lunch. But that’s another story.
Amore and his friends seem particularly interested in my list of party addresses. “We want to crash as many as possible, let’s be honest,” he says — particularly Pottorff’s.
“You could give a concession speech in person,” Associated co-worker Shawn Steward helpfully suggests.
Amore promises he’ll be respectful.
“I’m not gonna, like, raid her liquor cabinet.”
Next stop: Pottorff’s, sans Amore.