The buttons and T-shirts read “Vote for Vinick, Santa Paula’s Favorite Son” and combine high-level faux politics with shameless city self-promotion. In addition, a new Web site for Vinick’s campaign - www.santapaulaforvinick.com - has been created.Bobkiewicz said the goal of the hometown campaign is to continue the heavy buzz about Santa Paula’s quest to adopt Vinick, who hopes to replace ailing and termed-out President Bartlett - played by Martin Sheen - on The West Wing. “We hope people throughout the summer will come out to Santa Paula” to check out Vinick’s campaign headquarters and purchase the related merchandise. “In the fall, we’ll take other actions to support Senator Vinick’s candidacy” that will conclude with a “big election night event,” noted Bobkiewicz.Heavily Democratic Santa Paulans need not fear: Although Vinick is a Republican, he is considered a moderate. A tongue-in-cheek documentary about Vinick’s link with Santa Paula is also in the works.
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U.S. President? Kickoff for SP’s favorite son Vinick Monday at Depot
April 22, 2005
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesSanta Paula’s historic Depot, the presidential campaign headquarters of the city’s favorite son candidate Senator Arnold Vinick, will be the scene of a gala kickoff on Monday. The opening and campaign kickoff at Vinick’s Depot headquarters will be at 11 a.m. on April 25.“We’re going to invite Senator Vinick and see what happens,” said City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz.Earlier this month the City Council made it official when they formally adopted Vinick as a native Santa Paulan and endorsed Vinick’s candidacy for president on NBC television’s hit show The West Wing. Vinick is played by veteran actor Alan Alda and is facing off against Jimmy Smits’ Senator Santos.The city’s quest to adopt Vinick started earlier this year after a January episode aired featuring Vinick telling a crowd of supporters that he was raised in a citrus producing area of California. Mayor Mary Ann Krause promptly sent a letter - and a box of area citrus products - to the producer of The West Wing as well as Alda, offering Santa Paula as the presidential candidate’s hometown.Bobkiewicz is “encouraging all Santa Paulans to come out Monday to the Depot,” where Vinick for President signage will be unveiled as well as campaign T-shirts and buttons. The sale of the items will benefit the city’s fireworks fund.
