Politics & Government
No Shots Fired During Assault on Unemployment in Edmonds
Publicity stunt involving military transport vehicle was staged by Mike Hope in his bid for the Snohomish County Executive position.
Politicians can go to extreme lengths to get attention during election season.
Extreme length, meet Mike Hope, a 35-year-old ex-Marine and cop who is facing an uphill battle against incumbent Aaron Reardon in the race for Snohomish County Executive.
On Wednesday, Hope arrived in Edmonds on a whistle-stop tour to bring attention to himself and what he calls his “assault on unemployment.” To dramatize his fling through town, Hope arrived in a Pinzgauer, a six-wheeled military utility vehicle. Of course, a tank or true assault vehicle would have been more dramatic, but the Pinzgauer, mostly used to transport troops, was a low-key alternative.
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“I thought, we could do a bus tour,” said Hope from City Park, where the Pinzgauer—which was driven and is owned by Arlington orthopedic doctor Edward Eissman—captured a few glances from passers-by. “Then I thought that this would get more attention than driving through town on a bus. It’s important that we remain focused on the main issue facing the voters: creating sustainable jobs that provide economic opportunity for the people of Snohomish County.”
Although Hope sent out a press release on his visit to Edmonds, most residents seemed blissfully unaware. No one was on hand to greet him at City Park and his exit from the city, up Main and around the fountain, couldn’t persuade java junkies to turn their heads at Starbucks.
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Hope, a state representative from Lake Stevens, says his “assault tour” focuses on a five-point plan to keep existing jobs while attracting new economic opportunities for communities around the county.
The plan focuses on collaborating regionally and competing globally; reinvesting in the private sector; keeping the U.S. workforce in the U.S.; rooting out mismanagement; and prioritizing educational efforts.
The problem in Edmonds was that there was no one at City Park to hear Hope’s message, and Hope and his Pinzgauer split town pretty quickly without further stops.
Hope said he hoped to attract some attention today in Everett, where he will once again ride around in the Pinzgauer, at about 12:30 p.m.
Maybe he needs a cannon.