Dan Johnston admits he’s a political junkie.
The longtime Burnaby city councillor spent his honeymoon 20 years ago in San Francisco collecting political signs during that year’s election season.
So when Johnston was on vacation earlier this month in Las Vegas, he did what comes naturally.
Instead of spending all his time at the slots, he and his wife took in a rally for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
“It was pretty cool,” the councillor told the NOW, of his experience with American politics.
Johnston said he wasn’t planning to go to a political rally, but he saw an ad in the paper that Clinton was holding a rally at the local electrical workers’ union hall, and he decided to attend. He said there was a long lineup to get into the rally, but the event was well-organized. Johnston explained there were campaign workers making sure everyone who lined up was on the voters list or had signed up to work for the Clinton campaign. As a Canadian who couldn’t vote, he told them he wouldn’t be much help.
When the hall opened the doors, he noted the Secret Service was on hand with metal detectors.
After 45 minutes of warm-up speakers, the former First Lady, Secretary of State and presidential hopeful took the stage.
Johnston said Clinton spoke for about 45 minutes in a traditional stump speech but added elements meant for the locals in Nevada. He also said she spoke about her jobs plan and getting the vote out.
The Burnaby councillor was impressed.
“I kind of admire her (Clinton). I always have,” he said, adding he hopes the Democrat will win this fall. “It was an awesome afternoon in my mind.”
In what has turned out to be one of the most unusual presidential races in generations, with Republican candidate billionaire businessman Donald Trump taking on Clinton, the first woman in history to lead a party ticket, Johnston said he can’t help but keep a close eye on the election south of the border.
While he didn’t take much away in terms of the politics, the councillor marvelled at how well organized the event went down.
“They out organize all three Canadian political parties, it was just amazing to watch,” he said. “It was just a machine.”
Johnston said he took in the rally for personal reasons but said there was at least one thing he could take back to his job on council.
“I think there were some pretty interesting ways of making sure that events were organized in an efficient and effective way,” he said.
