The worst election experience of my life occurred in a conference room with several candidates for the Fairfield-Suisun school board.
As we prepare for Election Day 2020, let me take you back in time. To 2011 or 2012.
I had recently returned to the Daily Republic as news editor after a three-year hiatus. Most of my previous tenure was as sports editor, so I was concerned that people aware of my history wouldn't take me seriously when it came to covering and editing hard news. Things like City Council articles. Investigative pieces. Business articles.
I never received real criticism of me for that – it was insecurity, I guess – but I was aware that it could happen.
When election time came, I was partly responsible for coordinating our coverage, which was fine. I was also part of the four-member editorial board that interviewed candidates and made the Daily Republic's endorsements. The editorial board included me, Glen Faison (the managing editor), the publisher and assistant publisher. We would interview candidates as a group, meet and settle on our endorsements.
I felt a little nervous going into the interviews, but I also knew that my position in life helped. I had lived in Suisun City for 25 years. My kids were in local schools. I worked in town. I knew a lot of people. Heck, I knew some of the candidates, at least casually.
The school board race had several candidates: I think there were eight people running for four spots. We all gathered in the Daily Republic conference room, crowded around the big table with a few candidates sitting behind others.
The publisher took the lead in the meeting. He was no-nonsense, asking very direct questions and keeping things moving. Some of the candidates were articulate and answered clearly. Some seemed overwhelmed by the situation. Some had no idea what he was asking.
I waited, with a couple of questions to ask that would show I belonged. I listened and took notes.
Suddenly, there was a noise. A phone ring tone.
"Oh no, someone brought in their phone and didn't turn it off," I thought, shaking my head. "How embarrassing. And what a time for it to happen."
Everyone else noticed, too.
No one moved.
The ringtone was a song: The theme from "Sanford and Son."
"Wow," I thought. "The person who didn't turn off their phone has the same ringtone as me. Weird."
The meeting stopped. Still, no one moved. It was uncomfortable. The song played on. Wasn't the dummy who owned the phone going to turn it off?
I realized people were looking at . . . me.
My phone was vibrating in my pocket as the "Sanford and Son" theme song continued.
Oh no!
What the heck? I always left my phone at my desk! No one ever called me! How did this happen?
Slowly, cheeks burning, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the phone. The song got louder since it was no longer muffled. Everyone watched as I turned it off, then returned it to my pocket.
"Sorry," I muttered.
I don't remember the rest of the meeting. I don't remember who we endorsed. I don't remember anyone acknowledging my misstep, although I'm sure all of my bosses wanted to do so.
I've voted in 11 presidential elections and at least twice that many local elections. I remember very few voting experiences.
But when the "Sanford and Son" theme played when I was pretending to be a serious journalist? That's burned in my memory.
Reach Brad Stanhope at bradstanhope@hotmail.com.
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