Here, in the self-proclaimed Artist's Republic of Fremont, our Chamber of Commerce holds an annual political event. Rather than some symposium or conference, we hold a picnic with all the sun, food and, oh, well, fun that picnics entail.

- In The Beginning

Checking past issues of our prestigious and vaunted newsletter, The Bridge, the first mention of this bit of frippery appeared April 1988 and listed the event as a "combined meeting with Wallingford." Sue Buerg spoke on the 1990 Goodwill Games and for a measly $5, attendees ate chicken, ribs and baked beans (cooked up by Hewitt's Catering), with dessert provided by the Wallingford Chamber and drinks schlepped over by members of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce.

Thus it would be, every year, more or less.

In 1989, The Bridge advertised the picnic featuring Mayoral Candidates. The cost had climbed to $6 and the location settled at Gasworks Park. According to the notice in the June newsletter, "Bear in mind in the throng are the City Council Chairs of both Parks and Land-Use Committees, the current City Attorney, at least two or three unknowns, etc. These people will be talking about being Mayor of your City and they need to know the problems and needs of those doing business North of the Ship Canal!"

Thus we established the focus of each picnic - politics - although our timing couldn't be worse. Candidates up for general election in November don't file, officially, until mid-July. Most candidates don't have a clear idea of their campaign platform, much less build up a head of steam this early in the race. Many times seasoned candidates clamor for the privilege to attend, aware that strong supporters lurk in our midst, but the untried often turn down the opportunity.

- There Were Other Topics

Members of the Seattle City Council go up for election every other year, and those races hold the most interest and often prove the most interesting. On off years, other contests must be sought. Judges, while being every bit as important as the City Council, never grab attention in the same way. No one knows these candidates. In years past, laws existed to prevent judicial candidates from discussing their platform. Those restrictions have now loosened and judicial candidates may finally reveal their positions and attitudes, factors that influence their decisions.

June 1994, The Bridge announced "Picnic in the Park" as the "Unteenth Annual Multi-Chamber Get Together". Candidates for State Supreme Court Judge took questions, the crowd feasted on barbeque ribs and chicken (this time from O.K. Corral) all of which now costs attendees $10.

- Politics Remain Popular

In 1995, defying mathematical logic, we held the "Tenth Annual" picnic. The Ballard Chamber also participated and candidates for Seattle City Council came to hear "what they can do for us."

In 1997, we fashioned another candidate forum in August at The Troll based on our success at "Picnic." Held in the early evening, the Mayoral candidates spoke, while other candidates worked the crowd. We found The Troll location very popular but with the world's worst acoustics. Conversation flowed easily, but no one could address the assembly. However, it would be at this meeting (with it's more timely scheduling as races heat up before September's primaries) that we would get the candidates for Senator in 1998.

That year proved the downfall of the picnic. The Fremont Chamber, like every other organism in Fremont, walks a thin line of luck. In 1998, an off-year for Council elections, we couldn't find any candidates willing to admit they would run for office. Then came the biggest, and potentially deadliest bit of luck - the weather. June anywhere else in the Northern Hemisphere may mean sun and warmth. In Seattle, it means rain. That up until now this little hitch had never caused problems may appear as more than luck, but it had run out.

- Until The Rains Come

Not that we let grey skies and drippy overhangs deter us. The Chamber billed the event as a "Surprise" meeting and invited a diverse group of standing elected officials, including State Representatives and City Council members, who spoke on current issues. The stalwart group of attendees huddled under the shelter, stuffed their faces, and engaged in a heated debate regarding the new baseball stadium, and officials' decision to build it although voters had rejected the proposal.

In June 1999, we advertised Charlie Chong, Cheryl Chow, Curt Firestone, Dawn Mason, Douglas Mays, Judy Nicastro and Peter Steinbrueck as those candidates that had confirmed so far. The picnic, among City Council candidates, has become so de rigueur that all make an effort to attend. However, 12 candidates take up a great deal of space, and give listeners too much information to process.

In June 2001, Picnic in the Park metamorphosed into Picnic in the Plaza. Held at the new plaza built in the Quadrant Lake Union Center at the foot of Evanston Avenue, Mayoral and City Council candidates stood ready to answer our persnickety questions.

- Let The Merriment Continue

We returned to Gasworks, with the Wallingford and University Chambers, by 2003. Our newsletter billed it as "A multi-community, North Side of Lake Union gathering, to visit, renew old friendships, invigorate old animosities, wash down sausages, and hear what candidates for local and regional offices have to say." We also mentioned we would be there - rain or shine.

On the third Wednesday in June, rain or shine, the picnic happens; whether that means weather, or fortune. In our "unteenth" years, changes have come to Fremont, and our Chamber of Commerce, but our picnic tradition endures. And why shouldn't it? Sun, food and fun, plus a little politics, remain eternal, even in Fremont.