Seattle Elections: "On the Campaign Trail with Dorsol Plants"

dinazina (WashBlog):

Young, gifted and endowed with a funny name and a "calling" to public service. Maybe an antidote to a persistent case of cynicism that seems to be spreading on this esteemed forum?

Late last year, I described Dorsol Plants' announcement of his upcoming candidacy to his Highland Park neighbors (right) as chair of their community action group.

Since then, the Iraq war veteran and community organizer with a brazen ambition for a 24-year-old from West Virginia has acquired some things a candidate for Seattle City Council should have:
a suit and tie, a selection of publicity photos, a campaign website, a manager, an air of modest confidence, and a collection of endorsements.

He cleans up well!

Introductions often begin with confusion: What's a Dorsol? She's running for City Council? - oh, it's a guy? Did you say Dorsol? Plants as in plants? And sometimes: Is there an election coming up?

More below:

Dorsol is a fine speaker and listener who does his homework. He has more than held his own among the dozen other City Council candidates competing for attention on public forums throughout the city, some of whom come wrapped in 30 years of experience, or have the security of a sizeable campaign chest.

Dorsol surprised a lot of people in July by winning an endorsement (with David Bloom) from the influential King County Democrats, AND words of praise from P-I curmudgeon Joel Connelly:
"City challengers gain ground on incumbents: Mallahan mixes it with the mayor while Plants begins to blossom"

This was followed by an endorsement (dual) from the 34th LD, where he enjoys the solid support of Ivan Weiss and many other members, and from the KC Young Democrats.

Dorsol has attended several Republican party events as well. Of course no endorsement was forthcoming - he acknowledged being a Democrat - but the Seattle Repubs seemed to respect his presence before them and his military experience. He may have won a few votes.

Dorsol did not fear to walk with Zombies (above) in Fremont, accompanied by Zombified supporters. He was the ONLY candidate in sight at the annual Fremont Zombie walk.

In the Gay Pride parade (above), Dorsol was the ONLY candidate to have an iconic escort - Mother Nature. True, some onlookers were confused, believing HER to be Dorsol Plants, but he did introduce himself to many voters.

Since then it's gotten very interesting.

Above, at the Central/Capitol Hill District Forum, the candidate in the center has just failed to answer several questions and handed off the mike to Dorsol, who had no problem.

At the Southeast Candidate Forum (above)hosted by Peter Masindire (Obama organizer), Dorsol left thinking he might have made a error in answering the final question about public safety by comparing the SE district situation to his experience patrolling the streets of Baghdad. But in fact he won the straw poll of attendees that was taken right after.

A reporter from Crosscut challenged him to come up with 100 ideas for Seattle - so here they are. By the way, one of those is publicly financed campaigns, and this is prominently stated on the 100 Ideas page. Dorsol signed the Candidates' Pledge for Washington Public Campaigns 6 months ago.

Top vote in "Candidate Survivor"

In the most entertaining candidate forum of the season, a large field of 09 City Council candidates, wearing track suits, were put through an amusing series of qualification rounds and some eliminated by audience text-message vote.

As the youngest candidate, Dorsol (in white tee at left) was an early favorite of the youthful audience and continued to win enthusiasm. Dorsol's "2-minute talent" demonstrated self-defense moves and ended with a drop to the floor and five one-handed pushups.
Photos on Flickr

The event at the Showbox was sponsored by Washington Bus and The Stranger to motivate young voters to participate in an off-year primary. After being crowned with a rhinestone tiara, Dorsol received multiple offers of volunteer help. "I am a politician, not a rock star," he reminded some who seemed a bit starstruck. But after the show, he pulled up his shirt several times to display rippling abdominal tattoos to fascinated fans, many of who took snaps with their cellphones.
Seattle P-I: Your skinny dipping Seattle City Council candidates

The intoxicating triumph of "Candidate Survivor" was followed up this week by The Stranger's endorsement of Dorsol for City council position 4.

Volunteering to help Dorsol with his campaign is gratifying - it's starting to remind me of the heady days of Dean for America 04. That's a bit of a stretch, but it truly is a grassroots campaign for an exceptional, deserving candidate, and this one I know personally. Well, grassroots would be a step up, actually...

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Here is an email from a voter that Dorsol shared with me:

"Greetings Mr. Plants,
I just received my vote-by-mail package. You appear to be an interesting candidate for the City Council #4. I checked out your website too. Good Luck at this, Seattle needs some new blood on the council and I hope that at the very least your candidacy shakes a few members who are way too comfortable in their chairs. I will be looking forward to seeing how many others share my opinion.

-A voter

Dorsol Plants will be 25 in a few weeks.

Howie P.S.: Other news in Seattle elections:"Bob Santos Endorses Mallahan."