Time to pull out all the stops
High school mock election Thursday
November 1, 2006
With just days to go, it's time to get every last sign up and every last piece of literature distributed. A complete list of Democratic Party offices is listed below. Head over to your local office and find out how much Jean Hay Bright material they have. If there isn't a solid plan in that office as to when and where the material will be distributed by the weekend, please take as much as you feel you can distribute on your own and get it out now.

The monsoon and Halloween is over, so we should get every sign up as quickly as possible. People will continue to be voting absentee this week and on Monday. By election day maybe 20 percent of the electorate will have already voted, so waiting until Monday night to get signs out isn't as good a tactic as it used to be. Better to get them all out now, then spend the rest of the time maintaining them. Keep a hammer, tape, stapler (and staples) in your car at all times.

As for putting up signs, we have found that two wooden stakes, set 12 inches apart, works best. Pound in the stakes, drop the sign over them, and staple it to the stakes, using three staples on both sides of each stake. I know some folks have been using metal hoops, and if that's all you have, or if you don't have a hammer and stapler, do the best with them you can. We have found the best way to secure signs on hoops is to use three metal hoops, placed in a triangle pattern, with signs dropped over two or three (depending on location and layout) of the hoops. Once the signs are dropped over, tie or tape the hoops together at the bottom of the signs. Taping the signs together with clear packing tape at the top adds even more stability.

A sign in a household yard is worth 10 signs along the side of the road. If you see a household with some Democratic signs but not one of Jean's stop in and ask if you can add one of her signs. If you do put them along the side of the road, try to associate them with some aspect of public infrastructure. Put them right next to a town line sign, or a railroad crossing, or a directional sign. Spend a little time to get them up straight and securely.

Thursday is mock election day at high schools all over the state, so signage out in front of high schools and along major school bus routes is important. Many students may be given a ballot while knowing nothing about the candidates. In our race in particular, name ID is very important. Some schools may already be serving as polling places, and some school districts may have special rules about signs on what the school thinks is school property. Make sure you know your local rules -- ask at the headquarters if you don't.

As for literature, if you find a party office that still has lots of palmcards, brochures or stickers, try to get them out as best you can as soon as you can. It's not too late to pass them out to friends and family (or co-workers if you're one of those brave souls who takes politics to the office). Ask local store owners if you can drop a few on the counters. If a business has a location where there's other material displayed, add ours to the mix. If you have a high school student in your household, pick up literature TODAY and have them take it to school Thursday to distribute. Especially stickers.

If you need more stakes, or signs, and local offices don't have them, please call our office at 234-4224, or at one of the local numbers you can find on our web page. We'll do our very best to get material to you.

It would be great if come Monday morning there was no Jean Hay Bright materials left in Democratic offices, our cars, or on our kitchen counters. Get it out there!

Finally, volunteer every other spare minute you have to help our local house, senate and county candidates, and the local party offices. If you don't have time to spare, bring food to the offices (All that leftover Halloween candy is good).

Here's the complete list of State Party offices. Please contact them, help out. This is the week when it all comes together.

Thank you for all the support you've offered over the course of this campaign, and for all the work you'll do this weekend.

David Bright, campaign manager

Maine Democratic Party - Augusta Headquarters
16 Winthrop Street
Augusta, Maine
207.622.6233

Maine Democratic Party - Portland Office
470 Forest Ave., Suite 300
Portland, ME 04101
207.772.2006
Portland Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 8:30 am - 8:30 pm
Friday: 8:30 am - 7:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sunday: Noon - 7:00 pm

Maine Democratic Party - Lewiston Office
213 Lisbon Street
Lewiston, ME 04240
207.782.0047

Maine Democratic Party - Bangor Office
185 Harlow Street, Suite 2
Bangor, ME 04401
207.945.4100
Maine Democratic 2006 County Offices

Cumberland County
500 Route 1
Yarmouth, Maine 04096
Office Phone: (207) 846-4200

Franklin County
225 Broadway
Farmington, Maine 04938
Office phone: (207) 778-2375

Hancock County
52B Maine Street
Ellsworth, Maine 04605
Office Phone: (207) 644-6012

Aroostook County
406 Main Street
Madawaska, ME 04756
(207) 728-3100

Main St
Presque Isle, ME
Office Phone:

Knox County
77 Union Street
Rockland, Maine 04841
Office Phone: (207) 596-0000

Piscataquis County
951 West Main Street
Dover-Foxcroft, Maine 04426
Office Phone: (207) 564-0002

Oxford County
331 Main Street
Norway, Maine 04268
Office Phone: (207) 739-2451, (207) 739-2458

Oxford County
432 Hancock Street
Rumford, Maine 04276
Office Phone: (207) 364-3990, (207) 364-3999

Sagadahoc County
Bathport Building
99 Commercial Street
Bath, Maine 04530
Office Phone: (207) 442-0100

Waldo County
9B Beaver Street
Belfast, Maine 04915
Office Phone :(207) 930-7007

York County
140 Main Street
Biddeford, Maine 04005
Office Phone: (207) 286-DEMS

Townhouse Mall, 883 Maine Street, Suite 12
Sanford, Maine 04073
Office Phone: 324-9005

Meadowbrook Plaza, 647 US Route 1
York, Maine 03909
Office Phone: (207) 363-2911

171 Washington Street
Limerick, ME 04048
Office Phone: (207) 793-3500