From Paul Wellstone and now Al Franken to municipal candidates across the country, Tony Doom of Marshall is a leading supplier of election campaign material. Now, he’s won a national award for his sales.

By Robert Wolfington III - Independent Staff Writer

A ittle over a week ago, Tony Doom received a phone call from U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken thanking him for a job well done.

Doom, owner of Tony Doom Supply Company in Marshall, has helped produce some of the most recognizable political campaign materials from around Minnesota and the United States.

Earlier this year Doom was recognized for his work when was named the ninth top-seller by Gill Studios, a producer of campaign material.

"I'm the marketing arm for several plants on campaign supplies," said Doom. "The one plant is the largest manufacturer of campaign supplies and promotional products nationwide.

"They have what they call a top 20 club," he added. "They informed me at the end of the year that I placed in the top 20, i -fact I was the ninth in sales in the nation."

According to Doom, marketing campaign material is a competitive business with over 13,000 people doing the same business. In 20002, Doom said he placed 18th on a similar top 20 marketers list.

Doom started working on campaign materials in the 1970s after a friend asked for help on a campaign.

Since then Doom said he has enjoyed working with people to make sure they get the materials that will fit their campaign. That means signs, buttons, brochures, bumper stickers and more.

"They might want to buy too few and if they want to buy 25 more I can help get them a deal," said Doom. "They might be picking the same color that their opponent is and heaven forbid you get to races with the same color."

In the garage at Doom's home, which doubles as an archive of past campaign materials, Doom has everything from his first campaign poster to a collection of various Paul Wellstone material he helped develop throughout Wellstone's political career. Doom was a good friend of the late senator from Minnesota.

While Doom has done business with politicians with national recognition, he also works closely with smaller campaigns.

Last week, Doom said he received an e-mail from a potential sheriff candidate from outside of Minnesota.

Within two hours of receiving the first message from the candidate, Doom said he responded and began a conversation through e-mail over the next few hours.

Doom said the candidate mentioned finding Doom on the Web.

Doom's Web site is filled with information about various campaign materials a candidate might want to use, but it doesn't include pricing.

For Doom, it makes more sense to work personally with the campaigns.

"My Web site doesn't have a pricing grid," said Doom. "It's more about a research and resource. I like to visit with the people personally because there are so many options and they're not always aware of that looking at the grids and clicking away."

Doom said the personal contact is important to ensure the campaigns get exactly what is needed.

"They might want to buy too few and if they want to buy 25 more I can help get them a deal," said Doom. "They might be picking the same color that their opponent is and heaven forbid you get to races with the same color."

Doom feels that personal touch is what has put him as one of the top marketers in the business.

With his name printed on a number of high profile signs around the country, Doom said he has recently began to expand into non-political areas as well.

Doom has sold materials to airlines, realtors and neighborhood groups in additional to his politician customers.

In late January, Doom got the chance to work on material for Franken's campaign. When Franken announced his candidacy quickly — he's running as a DFLer against incumbent U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman — there was a short turnaround time. But Doom was able to deliver.

"The day he announced (he was running) I had a truck delivering the material to his home," said Doom.

"Normally we need a two-week window," said Doom. "I think when I check with my production people on an order of this size and significance I probably get some response because of my status at the plant."

Earlier this month, following Franken's announcement, Doom got a phone call from Franken.

"He personally thanked me for that and he was thrilled with how things turned out," said Doom. "He told me he was coming down to southwest Minnesota real soon."

Contact Robert Wolfington at rwolfington@marshall independent.com