Putting the ‘social’ in social distance sign-waving

ANCHORAGE ELECTIONS ARE UNDERWAY; WHERE ARE THE SIGN-WAVERS?

Jamie Allard, a candidate for Anchorage Assembly, faces the same problem as all other candidates for office right now — no gatherings of 10 or more people and the State health mandate to stay 6 feet apart make it difficult to have rallies and fundraisers. And with everyone staying home, what’s a candidate to do, while protecting everyone from the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

But sign-waving in an era of COVID-19 has brought out the creative in Allard, an Army veteran.

Allard had some signboard images made of some of her favorite people, and put them up along the highway with her while she waved to voters in what is a new twist to a well-known Anchorage elections tradition of sign-waving. Call it the “Allard wave.”

Starting with a cartoon image of President Trump, she also added one of former Lt. Gov. Loren Leman, former Assembly member Amy Demboski, and current Assembly Member Crystal Kennedy. Former Mayor Dan Sullivan and well-known political personality Susan Fischetti also joined the cardboard sign-waving force for Allard.

In the middle of the medley, on the ramp to Hiland Road in Eagle River, was Allard’s big sign that said, “Practicing social distancing, but still here for you.”

Allard said the response she received was encouraging — lots of honks and hand-waves, and some people even stopped to take selfies with the Trump sign.

“The things you come up when you’re quarantined,” Allard said.