Fish Fry Politics

It was Wednesday.

It was the second week of July.

And we decided, oh, we're going to go over Dawn's house.

That is Elder Dawn Mason.

It was just hot dogs about 20 people, my co-workers.

Let's go have a hump day picnic.

And for 30 years, she has hosted a huge group of people in her backyard.

Dawn, by the way, is not just some neighbor hosting a fish fry.

She is a former state representative.

She was the rep for the 37th Legislative District, which is the south end of Seattle.

And she's also a convener of VIPs, former Seahawks players, elected officials like Mayor Katie Wilson, State Attorney General Nick Brown, King County Executive Grimai Zahilai, and dozens of others in the political scene.

They all turn out for this fish fry every summer.

This casual hang has become a hub for community and politicians alike.

Then when I came out of office, we just kept doing it.

And then it just kept getting bigger.

So what started with maybe 20 some people, they just told me we have 302 people registered today.

But the thing is, This fish fry is not supposed to be political.

At least, according to Dawn, it's supposed to be a party for constituents.

And that's what this fish fry is about.

It's fun, food, and fellowship.

So the larger community is invited.

You pay $40 and you get a plate of fried fish, hearty greens, some baked beans, and a seat at Dawn Mason's annual fish fry and birthday party.

And yet, the party's edges are strewn with people asking for endorsements, these sidebar chats about the council, and even people just making requests of their local council member.

Actually, KUOW's political reporter and host of Sound Politics, Scott Greenstone, is the one who told me, if you're running for office...

You've got to come to Don Mason's fish fry.