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November 09, 2005
SoCal city claims 'West Wing' candidate as favorite son
Associated Press
SANTA PAULA, Calif. - Blurring the lines between fact and fiction, "The West Wing" has won real-life supporters here for one of its presidential candidates.
Local leaders have flooded this small agricultural community with banners and bumper stickers backing make-believe GOP candidate and favorite son Arnold Vinick as part of a city promotional campaign.
The NBC political drama made Santa Paula Vinick's hometown at the urging of local officials.
"We just really wanted him to have that small-town upbringing," said story editor Lauren Schmidt. "I personally love the fact that this town is so into it. That's exactly the effect we want to have on our viewers."
Local officials began lobbying the show after watching a January episode in which Vinick, played by Alan Alda, mentioned that he hailed from a citrus-growing community in California.
The City Council declared Vinick a Santa Paula resident and ordered City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz to help his election. Bobkiewicz later promoted the Ventura County community of 30,000 to the series' writers and producers.
"I'm probably the only city manager in America who has ever been directed by a City Council to get someone elected president," Bobkiewicz said. "We're not going to let up until we get Sen. Vinick into the White House."
According to his pretend bio on the show's Web site, Vinick grew up in Santa Paula, served on the City Council and even volunteered at a local library.
"The West Wing" and NBC have not helped directly with the city's campaign, which is not featured in commercials or on the Web site.
Even though Vinick has not mentioned Santa Paula on air, locals have opened a Vinick official presidential campaign headquarters at the city's historic train depot. The Chamber of Commerce has sold Vinick buttons, T-shirts and bumper stickers.
"We're just trying to promote the city," said chamber manager Ken Brookes. "We're actually amazed that Hollywood has gone along with our idea."
Posted by Jo at November 9, 2005 08:47 AM