Supervisor and mayoral candidate John Avalos (wearing white wig) attended several Halloween parties on Saturday as part of a visibility campaign in the run-up to Election Day. From left to right: Glendon “Anna Conda” Hyde, Avalos, Harvey Milk Club President Stephany Joy-Ashley and Karen Zapata, Avalos’ wife. Photos by Luke Thomas.
By Luke Thomas
October 31, 2011
With just 8 days to go before Election Day, the campaign to elect Supervisor John Avalos to the mayoralty of San Francisco executed another successful campaign visibility spectacle on Saturday traveling to several Halloween parties in a colorfully adorned, converted school bus named “Dodo.”
“Saturday night was All Night for Avalos,” said Avalos who wore a blonde wig as part of his Halloween costume. “We rode the Dodo bus to have a little fun and create a bit of spectacle and buzz for the campaign.”
Avalos and wife, Karen Zapata, and campaign volunteers Sasha Cuttler and Stephany Joy Ashley .
With soul, funk and R&B music blaring, Avalos and company could not help but get jiggy.
The Dodo bus is an internationally recognized art vehicle that has been written up and photographed for the New York Times and French Vogue magazine, said bus co-owner Aaron Selverston. It is also a regular attraction at Burning Man.
The Dodo bus is owned and operated by Aaron Selverston, Eric Charles and Galen Richards.
“The Dodo was inspired by an extinct bird from Mauritius that was celebrated for its uncanny wit, charm and intelligence but was bound ironically to the terrestrial plane with undersized wings,” Selverston said. “What better way to shine a spotlight on a bright, creative mind then to drive John Avalos and campaign staff around in a radically-illuminated Burning Man bus?”
Dodo bus owner Aaron Selverston paid tribute to the extinct Dodo bird donning a chicken mask.
A handsome Aaron Selverston with his easy on the eyes +1, Annie Lebowitz.
Starting off at Avalos campaign headquarters on Market Street around 7 pm, the Dodo, laden with high-spirited Avalos supporters and campaign volunteers, hit as many as six, in full-swing costume parties in the Excelsior, Mission, Lower Haight and Polk Street neighborhoods, handing out League of Young Voters voter guides as well as Avalos campaign literature, and completing the odyssey around 11pm at a fundraiser/Halloween party in Bernal Heights.
“The reaction was overwhelmingly positive,” Avalos said. “Over the past several weeks my star has been rising and most everywhere we went on the bus we met folks who were warm to my candidacy. I also managed to flip quite a few voters with the exception of a Ron Paul supporter who would neither budge my way nor reveal his vote.”
Stunt brainchild and Avalos campaign volunteer, Julian Davis, said, “John Avalos was able to do some very visible campaigning in a very fun way leading up to Election Day. We proved by far that we’re the coolest campaign for Mayor in San Francisco.”
Visibility stunt brainchild Julian Davis (center) flanked by Colin Hoops and Aaron Selverston.
More Photos
Die-hard Liverpool Football Club fan, photographer, accidental stunt man and all-round good guy, Tim Daw, donning what looks like a ghoulish zombie costume at a Halloween house party in the Excelsior.
Anna Nichole-Daw Lacey and Tim Daw.
SFBG City Editor Steven Jones at a Halloween party in the Excelsior.
Halloween revelers pass by the Dodo bus parked outside The Red Devil Lounge.
A packed house at the Lexington in the Mission.
Everywhere for Avalos Day brainchild Andy Blue donned a Fidel Castro costume.
Fidel Castro hand delivered League of Pissed Off voter guides.
Ed Lee gets it done for the 1 percent!
Luke Thomas
Luke Thomas is a former software developer and computer consultant who proudly hails from London, England. In 2001, Thomas took a yearlong sabbatical to travel and develop a photographic portfolio. Upon his return to the US, Thomas studied photojournalism to pursue a career in journalism. In 2004, Thomas worked for several neighborhood newspapers in San Francisco before accepting a partnership agreement with the SanFranciscoSentinel.com, a news website formerly covering local, state and national politics. In September 2006, Thomas launched FogCityJournal.com. The BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, New York Times, Der Spiegel, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, 7x7, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Bay Guardian and the San Francisco Weekly, among other publications and news outlets, have published his work. Thomas is a member of the Freelance Unit of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521 and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
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November 4, 2011 at 2:54 pm
I’ve been really impressed by the Avalos campaign too, but in 2008, word was that he shook every hand in D10, which is what most people who seem to understand campaigning say it takes.
November 1, 2011 at 8:39 am
Luke,
Great layout. You even make dead people look good. The Avalos campaign has amazed me. I didn’t think he could reach this level. Congratulations to the magnificent army of supporters John gathered and may he or my candidate, Adachi or my favorite, Terry Jean Baum be picking drapes for Room 200 next Wednesday or Thursday or Friday.
Go Niners!
h.
October 31, 2011 at 12:45 pm
Ooops. . . just took note of Julian Davis’s remarks. The most cool campaign.
October 31, 2011 at 12:41 pm
The Avalos campaign certainly seems to be having the most fun.