U.S. Post Office Loses Kennett’s Campaign Mail
Don’t worry. Alex Kennett isn’t “going postal.”
Still, the Morgan Hill City Council candidate is plenty ticked at the United States Postal Service, which apparently lost a bulk mailing of invitations to his Sept. 9 “kick-off” campaign party.
“We got the bulk mail invitations to the Morgan Hill Post Office at 10:30am (on Aug. 30), and they promised to get them out by Thursday the next day,” said Swanee Edwards, Kennett’s campaign manager. “Everything was filled out properly and nothing was delivered, so Monday we went to the post office to ask about them and they couldn’t find them anywhere in the Bay Area.”
Local Postmaster Judy Dunfield confirmed the incident when reached for comment. Dunfield said the Morgan Hill Post Office processes 76,000 pieces of mail on an average day and there’s always a small risk for mistakes to happen.
“Political mail has historically been given priority over other mail,” said Dunfield, who’s worked at the post office for 25 years. “This is a mistake. It went to the plant (in San Jose) and got lost.”
Dunfield added the mailers had been sent standard mail, which does not guarantee a delivery date. The post cards actually did resurface at the Morgan Hill Post Office a week ago, but when contacted by workers Kennett said he didn’t bother sending them out.
Kennett’s campaign spent $1,900 for the postage and $3,038 for the printing of the special invitations that were addressed to virtually every household in Morgan Hill.
“Needless to say, we were really express upset,” Edwards said. “And the post office assured us that it would be treated with priority.”
The post office is crediting Kennett’s campaign for the lost postage. He said he plans to send out another mailer to voters before the Nov. 7 election. Meanwhile, Kennett said his campaign kick-off party at the Granary on Depot Street was a success. About 80 people showed up, including special guest Assemblyman John Laird, helping him raise $3,000 for his campaign.
Other candidates vying for two at-large council seats are incumbent Greg Sellers and political newcomers Marby Lee, Chris Borello and Al Tervalon.
Ironically, Debbie Borello, a relative of Chris Borello, works at the Morgan Hill Post Office – but Kennett was quick to say he doesn’t suspect a scandal.
“These things happen,” Kennett said.
