A vote for ‘The Rock’ is a vote for … DelRay Rokke

DelRay Rokke and Ken Smart didn’t make the cut during last month’s primary election in Maplewood. Smart finished third in a seven-candidate mayoral field, while Rokke took fifth in the contest for two city council posts.

But Smart and Rokke are not accepting defeat. The political allies are now mounting a write-in campaign. And according to a letter Smart sent to Maplewood City Clerk Karen Guilfoile earlier this week, the candidates are seeking a rather broad interpretation of what should constitute a write-in vote for their respective campaigns.

Among the possible aliases that should be interpreted as a vote for Rokke? DelRay, Del, Rock, Rocky, Rokke, DelRay Rokke, Delray Rokke, the Rock, The Rock Guy and any other variation of “rock.”

“Also it should be understood that DelRay Rokke is running for a seat as a city council member,” Smart writes. “It is possible that voters may reverse his and my name for mayor and council member unintentionally.”

At first glance, Smart’s list of potential electoral aliases is slightly shorter: Ken, Ken Smart, Smart, Smart Guy, Smart for Future, along with any other variation of the word “smart.” But then the mayoral candidate throws in this further explanation for how Maplewood voters might creatively express support for his candidacy.

“In addition, this should include variations for the word Smart such as intelligent, bright, clever, brainy, etc.,” Smart writes. “Hopefully, my votes will be recorded as candidate for mayor.”

But what happens if someone writes in “Smart Rock?”