Ding dong, who is it? Pierce County candidates should rethink doorbelling in pandemic

In one of the more divisive times in modern history, there’s one thing Republican and Democratic politicians can agree on: Reaching out to anxious voters during a pandemic isn’t easy.

With an average of 80 to 100 new reported COVID-19 cases popping up in Pierce County each day over the last few weeks, people have good reason to be spooked. But it hasn’t stopped local Republican candidates from door-to-door campaigning.

The practice has become another dividing line between local Republicans and Democrats. The latter are taking the side of caution; most of their electioneering is limited to phone calls, mailers and online activities, with occasional sign wavings mixed in — masks and social distancing included.

Pierce County Democratic Central Committee Chair Kathy Orlando told us candidates have been given clear guidance by the PCDCC not to doorbell this year.

But many Republicans are doing it Old School, practicing what they call “distance doorbelling,” described to our Editorial Board as a sting-like-a-bee Muhammad Ali maneuver that involves ringing the bell and quickly jumping back six feet before the door opens.

Voters will presumably see a lot of this over the next three months, as primary election season ends this week and candidates shift into a higher gear before the general election.

There are no laws or mandates prohibiting neighborhood canvassing; in fact, U.S. Census workers are currently making in-person visits to Pierce County residents who have yet to fill out 2020 forms.

But just because political candidates can meet voters face-to-face doesn’t mean they should.

Cases of COVID-19 are still showing up in Pierce County hospitals with unfailing regularity. It’s why local, state and federal public health officials urge folks to continue to practice social distancing, wear masks and minimize interactions with people outside their households.

It’s also why 74 percent of Washingtonians interviewed in a new Crosscut/Elway poll said they’re voluntarily wearing masks in public these days; 31 percent said they wear masks in both indoor and outdoor settings.

Many Republicans have been slow to face the reality of this pandemic. President Trump failed to take the outbreak seriously for months after it emerged and accused Democrats of politicizing it.

Former 2012 Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain vocally dismissed the health threat and attended Trump’s Tulsa, Oklahoma rally in early July without a mask. Sadly, Cain passed away Thursday from coronavirus-related complications.

When four Republican state legislators sued Gov. Jay Inslee this spring, calling his pandemic response “overblown,” they found support in GOP state leaders such as House minority leader JT Wilcox, R-Yelm. It’s little wonder the dismissive attitude is now spilling onto the campaign trail.

This past week pictures circulated showing Pierce County Republican candidates Cyndy Jacobsen and Reps. Chris Gildon and Kelly Chambers doorbelling in Puyallup. All are running for legislative seats in the 25th District. None wore masks, not in the pictures anyway.

Gildon, who said he always follows rules, even those he doesn’t agree with, responded to our inquiry with this comment: “If I’m standing six feet away from a person, the governor’s orders do not require me to wear a mask.”

Both he and Jacobsen told us they stand six feet away from residents and have a mask while doorbelling. But they acknowledged it doesn’t always cover their mouths and noses when they speak.

While we champion grassroots work and know the value of doorstep encounters, politicians should strongly consider sticking to mailers and social media outreach this year. Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier, a Republican, is setting a good example by refraining from doorbelling in his reelection campaign.

Sure, it’s harder to express warmth and relatability, and there’s no such thing as kissing a virtual baby (that we know of anyway). But pandemics call for sacrifice, and candidates should be no exception.

Front-door interactions needlessly endanger the health and peace of mind of voters, especially those most at risk for the worst consequences of COVID-19. Seniors and immunocompromised individuals might not wear a mask, either by choice or by necessity, especially in the refuge of their house at a time when they’re being told to “stay home, stay healthy.”

If Republicans insist on doorbelling, we suggest they take a page from state Sen. Steve O’Ban. The University Place resident doesn’t downplay the severity of the virus and says his volunteers have their temperatures taken before they hit the pavement — and yes, he insists everyone involved with his campaign wear a mask at all times while doorbelling.

“There’s enough good science that says masks work, “ O’Ban told a member of our Editorial Board. That’s a public health message we’d like to hear more consistently from conservatives.

This story was originally published August 2, 2020 at 7:00 AM.