NORTH BEND — Like the forum was to ancient Romans, the mall is to modern Americans.

A town square lined with displays of hiply dressed mannequins and Orange Julius stands, shopping centers are a place for people to share everything from local gossip to politics.

With that in mind, it’s not surprising that both local Republicans and Democrats have set up shop in the Pony Village Mall, or that like their political views, they find it hard to put aside age-old rivalries.

“I think they’re wrong and they think they’re right,” said Fran Holland, a volunteer with the Republican Central Committee. “There’s a definite partisanship.”

That’s not to say that the people who run the two offices don’t try to get along.

Both sides have made friendly overtures — flowers from the Democrats on the Republicans’ opening day, a hand-written letter of appreciation from the Republicans, breezy chatter in the main stretch of the mall. But that doesn’t keep volunteers and mall-goers from occasionally taking a jab at opposing parties and their platforms. It appears that in light of the close, contentious race, they simply can’t help themselves.

On Thursday, Holland and fellow volunteer Katherine Randall, both members of the Coos County Republican Women, spoke with community members who wandered into the Republican Party Headquarters. While there, they listened as a sturdy woman in a gold jacket told a joke about newborn Democratic kittens that turned Republican when their eyes opened. Randall and Holland laughed.

The two volunteers said they don’t generally visit the Democrats — less than 200 feet from their office — but that doesn’t mean they have an issue with them.

“We’re not nasty,” Holland said.

“They’re just workers like we are,” Randall added.

“Just not as informed,” Holland retorted.

In the Democratic Headquarters that day, Sharon Ramirez, the North Bend Democratic Headquarters manager, Webmaster John Schaaf and other volunteers, said they want to maintain a good relationship with the other party.

“I really believe that we may have our party differences but when it all comes down to it, we’re all Americans,” Schaaf said. “The issues we’re facing coming up after this election will require more non-partisan cooperation than we’ve ever experienced in my time voting.”

He added that he’s sick of partisan behavior. That’s why he brought that pot of chrysanthemums to the Republicans when they opened their offices.

“We have people who go over there and talk awhile. There probably are several topics that we could get into heated debates (about), but we generally avoid them,” Schaaf said. “My guess is that we know we have differences, but we’re working on common grounds.”

Walking the higher ground can be difficult, though, when pot shots are made, such as the one about uninformed Democrats.

“I could tell you some of the negative things people have been saying about the Republicans, but I prefer not to,” Ramirez said.

Day-to-day

The two parties’ headquarters are open seven days a week to serve two main purposes: to register voters and to promote party candidates and causes. They also sell a bevy of campaign buttons, bumper stickers, yard signs, T-shirts and other paraphernalia. 

“They want to talk politics. They want to know the Democratic platform or certain issues or Obama’s stand on certain issues and we need to get the information for them if we don’t have it on hand,” Ramirez said.

The focus isn’t solely on the presidential election. After ballots are mailed, beginning Oct. 17, the Democrats said they will hold a heavy “Get Out the Vote” campaign to make sure that people who favor their candidates and party get their ballots in.

“We want our Democrats to vote the complete Democratic slate,” Ramirez said.

But when people come in to register at either office, volunteers don’t push.

“Our job is not to convert people when they come in to register,” Schaaf said. “We want people to be involved and they need to register whatever party they are.”

The real competition between the parties begins after everyone is signed up.

Holland, who wore a pair of golden elephant earrings, said she and Randall promote the Republican way.

“I think we both feel that Republicans will do a better job of keeping our taxes down and moving the country forward. Even though the economy is bad right now, it will get worse in my opinion if Obama is elected,” she said.

Among the Republicans who visited the GOP office Thursday, Gold Beach resident Carolyn Myer said she came that day to share a story with her fellow Republicans. And that’s what both the offices are there for.

“They offer a place to go in and talk and share ideas,” Myer said.

Together, the two offices have registered hundreds of voters. According to a spokeswoman in the Coos County Elections Office, on Jan. 1, the county had 34,648 registered voters, including 14, 493 Democrats, 12,125 Republicans and a spattering of minor political parties and non-affiliates. As of Oct. 1, the total jumped to 36,990 voters, with 15,357 Democrats and 12,728 Republicans. That’s an increase of 603 voters for the GOP and 864 for the Democrats. But the biggest increase — 875 voters — was found among people who don’t stick within the two party system.

“This campaign has been the busiest I’ve ever worked,” Ramirez said.