It's OK to call one candidate a Schmuck. And to say another's campaign has gone to the dogs.
Candidates are using humor and quirky tactics to promote themselves in their campaigns in Arizona's 20th Legislative District, which comprises Ahwatukee Foothills, west Chandler and south Tempe.
Though they are knocking on doors and talking at traditional campaign events, the candidates are also spreading their messages on myspace.com, at comedy venues and even at a dog show.
Rather than seeing it as his downfall, Republican Frank Schmuck, a 42-year-old Tempe state House candidate makes fun of his own name and has injected comedy into his campaign, signing e-mails, "SCHMUCK ... That's Right!"
Schmuck, an airline pilot, and his Team Schmuck supporters organized an afternoon comedy show with fellow pilot Tom Grayson, comedian and founder of the Ahwatukee Comedy Club in February at the Ahwatukee Golf and Country Club. Grayson and comedian Ken Kaz performed comedy routines and Schmuck said he mixed humor with his speech, saying it was "nice to know I wasn't the only Schmuck here today."
And the venue for Schmuck's campaign kickoff was a hangar party at Stellar Airpark in Chandler in January. He said he flew in a World War II plane and drew Huppenthal, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and other supporters, drawing about 250 attendees to the party.
Ted Maish, 56, a Democratic retired teacher seeking the one district Senate seat, is getting help from a 19-year-old to challenge longtime incumbent Sen. John Huppenthal, R-Chandler.
Jon Black, a University of Arizona student, is Maish's campaign manager, and he designed the candidate's web site.
"I taught high school for 30 years," Maish said. "I learned that folks that age can be incredibly mature, incredibly sharp and savvy."
Maish's supporter CJ Briggle, a Democratic precinct committeewoman, dressed her dog in a Maish-for-Senate red, white and blue outfit, including a top hat, at the Ahwatukee Dog Show on March 30 at Ahwatukee Dog Park.
"It was just incredibly cute," Maish said. "Anything to get your name out there is good. Most of us are dog lovers."
Republican Jeff Dial, a Chandler resident seeking one of two district House seats, has Facebook and myspace.com pages.
"The myspace page is a great way to meet more of the younger folks," Dial, 32, said. "Facebook is more the professional site. That's a great way to reach out to professionals."
"It's cool," he said. "We can get more word out to everybody."
Jim Torgeson, 43, a Chandler Democrat seeking a district House seat, said he is keeping "nice and quiet" for now as it is early in the campaign.
"I'm not looking to entertain people, to be quirky or funny," Torgeson said. "When it comes to business I'm real cut and dry."
Rep. John McComish, R-Ahwatukee, a two-term incumbent and House majority whip seeking another term in the House, said he has been busy working in the Legislature though he thinks some of the quirky campaign strategies are smart.
"We don't have the time for some of that creativity," McComish said. "I've been going to different events, standing outside the library greeting people and trying to get signatures" and participating in Ahwatukee's Easter parade, he said.
Newcomer Andy Swann, a Tempe Republican seeking a House seat, said he hasn't made specific plans on campaigning yet but he met residents at the Easter parade and Spring Fling in Ahwatukee.
"Any opportunity to get your name out there, as long as it's in a positive way is a good idea," Swann said.