Before primary season is completely over, let us take time to recognize one of the more unusual races in the state.
I only learn this after arriving home after being away a couple of weeks. In the stacks of postcard political mailings – a huge stack – with commercials, this is the way candidates get the word out these days – among all the negative ads and even hateful ones (Jarjura vs. Lembo was particularly awful), there was the odd campaign of one Gerald Garcia.
Garcia was running for Secretary of State and for purposes of being better known outside of New Haven, he has renamed himself Gerry. Gerry Garcia.
Soon his mailings were edged in tie-dye. For no particular reason his depictions of the state were adorned with electric guitars (with the lame phrase, “It’s time for a New Tune in Hartford.” Really? Why would you use that phrase? Is he a musician?).
One tie-dyed mailing used psychedelic lettering, as if it were a Fillmore handbill instead. And the coup de grace? A little head skull surrounded in red and white stripes and stars on a field of blue. Its message? “Vote.”
His website has more of this stuff, including a little video about the old policies of Hartford being a beat up guitar and his policies being a new one, which we’re not entirely convinced he can play.
It’s only when you click on his bio on the website does he come clean:
To dispel myths immediately, Gerry is not the reincarnated lead singer from the Grateful Dead, though he is a fan of the ice cream and frequently wears the ties that bear his name.
Gee, wonder where those myths started up…
Monday was the 15th anniversary of the death of the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia. Tuesday, Gerry Garcia lost the Democratic primary for secretary of state against Denise Merrill.
We can only offer this solace, from his nonrelation:
“A box of rain will ease the pain, and love, will see you through.”