What it is really like to work on a campaign: interludes of normal creative expression

Campaign season, from Labor Day to Election Day, contains moments when voters, if not campaigners, have better things to do than focus on how to support, manage, and constrain their politicians.

In a city with a large immigrant population, there's Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16.

If there are Canadians aboot, Thanksgiving falls in early October.

That other immigrant holiday on October 10 won by Italian-Americans in the last century -- Columbus Day --  is being superseded by Indigenous Peoples Day in recognition of the explorer's victims.

The fall season offers sports extravaganzas that might, depending on location, command all local attention, such as the World Series and some football games.

But the most universal interruption in the campaign season is Halloween. On the one hand, people are often in a good mood and tolerant of people coming to their doors. On the other hand, costumed revelers can get a little sketchy or raucous as the day wears on.

So the UniteHERE Reno crew had an early dinner and a pumpkin carving contest on Halloween. Which would you judge to be the most creative? Here's a sampling:

Matthew paints the Data department pumpkin.

 

Some pumpkins were a team effort, just as they work together every day.

 

Loki the Sun Valley mascot goes wherever his team is sent daily.

 

 This pumpkin participated in the stomach flu and migraine wave that has run through the canvass crew.

I'd recognize that comb over anywhere.

When we fight, we win! When we vote, we win! ¡Si se puede!