The gloves come off in political campaign

Things you expect to see at the fair include rides, food, prizes and friends.

So, Robert Strickland and his wife, of Everett, weren’t surprised to see John Koster at the Stanwood Camano Community Fair last Saturday.

Koster was at the fair with his family, Strickland said, and was saying “hi” at the Republican booth when the couple happened by.

“We knew him, so we walked over,” Strickland said. “We shook hands — ‘Hi John, how are you?’”

That’s when they noticed a man “standing 10 feet, maybe 12 feet, away,” Strickland continued.

The man was videotaping Koster. The Stricklands figured he was from a news organization.

When they asked about the man, Koster told the Stricklands that his opponent, Rick Larsen, pays the man to follow Koster, videoing his movements and behavior.

Strickland said he’s from Texas, where politics are as dirty as they come, and he was “not surprised.” But he is disappointed.

“I’d like for people to run positive campaigns,” Strickland said. “Talk about themselves and what they stand on. Don’t go throwing dirt in someone else’s trench.”

According to Koster’s campaign manager, Larry Stickney, the issue is bigger than throwing dirt.

Stickney said he finally found out the man’s name is Nigel Herbig.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (DWash.) confirmed that Herbig is employed as his deputy campaign manager and that he videotapes Koster, among other jobs. He denied that Herbig is confrontational.

“If Nigel is asked to leave, he leaves,” Larsen said.

Stickney’s story is different.

In May, he said, Herbig “attempted to forcefully push his way into a private Memorial Day dinner for Koster’s campaign.”

Stickney said Herbig was loitering in the hallway by the registration table. Earlier in the evening, he had been seen outside the dinner, attempting to videotape the speakers.

When Herbig was asked to pay the entrance fee or leave, Stickney said, he tried to push his way in, camera rolling.

Stickney said they can’t stop Herbig from videotaping public appearances, but they’re “not obliged to allow uninvited guests to videotape our private events.”

Stickney said footage from public appearances are being misconstrued.

In a press release, posted on Koster’s campaign Web site, Stickney explained the incidents.

“One photo shows Koster supporters at a Fourth of July parade in Arlington, standing next to a Civil War reenactment troop carrying battle flags,” he wrote. “Another photo was taken at the Everett Fourth of July parade, where the Confederate flag appeared as part of a historical American flag display by one of the state legislative candidates.”

Larsen disagrees that the incidents were so innocent.

Koster’s campaign might be reporting that, but Larsen said that’s not what he’s been hearing from people who were there.

“The most offensive segment of the Larsen video shows a political cartoon with a derogatory depiction of a Tea Party person as a ‘Tea Bagger’ and a Klu Klux Klansman dangling a helpless President Obama in a noose,” Stickney’s press release said.

Larsen stands by the video.

“John Koster said ‘The Tea Party is one of the most exciting things to happen in this country for a long time,’” Larsen said.

The purpose of the video, he added, is to show, “OK, you mean these people?”

“(Koster) can support it, he can denounce it, but he can’t ignore it,” Larsen said.

Brooke Davis, Larsen’s campaign manager, disagreed via e-mail.

“This is standard practice for campaigns, and one that our opponent also uses,” she said. What is on Koster Web site is footage shot outside Larsen’s office in Bellingham, where citizens were protesting President Obama’s proposed health care reform. The video is titled “Larsen Didn’t Listen — Vote Liberty, Vote Koster.”

“If (media) folks tracked campaigns better, we wouldn’t have to cover this stuff,” Larsen said. “Every election is about a choice.”

Visitors to Larsen’s Web site, www.ricklarsen.org, can look under “Latest from the campaign” to find a link to the “New Koster Web video.”

Access to Koster’s Web site is at www.kosterforcongress. com.

Staff Reporter Jeremiah O’Hagan: 629-8066 ext. 125 or ohagan@scnews. com.