Jim and Ann Elliott Talk About the Politics Behind Building Western Graphics

Jim and Ann Elliott had no idea what they were in for when they founded Western Graphics in Lemon Grove in 1974. But they soon found the growing, fast-paced world of politics, printing, mail and consulting. It was a business the Elliotts fell in love with, despite the long hours and crazy days. And it was that love that nurtured Western Graphics into a dynamic company.

On Thursday, Jim and Ann shared their personal journey at the H. Lee House Cultural Center during the History Alive! monthly lecture hosted by the Lemon Grove Historical Society. The fireside chat was filled with tales of politics, mailers and the adventures of growing a successful business.

Ann Elliott said the best thing about starting their business was finding Lemon Grove.

“We just loved this little town. Still do,” she says. “It is a great place to have a business and a fantastic town.”

The Elliotts originally purchased land in Lemon Grove to build a house, then used that property and their savings to create Western Graphics. Ann and Jim say they were not prepared for the long hours and stress of a new business. Jim said his relationship with Ann was special as they worked together to build the trade.

“We were both scared to death,” Jim says.

The first piece of equipment the Elliotts purchased was an antiquated typesetter that Ann learned to operate. One of the first jobs she worked on was Abe and Me, a book about a man and his dog written by a certain San Diego sportswriter—the legendary Jack Murphy.

“As I am going through chapter by chapter I am getting wrapped up in this story,” she says. “Jim walked in as I was near the end of the book and I am crying. Jim looked at me and said, ‘I guess the dog died.’ And he did.”

It was not long before Western Graphics earned a reputation in the political arena. Jim Elliott says they had hundreds of customers. One day, right after a primary election, he was summoned to Sacramento to see Willie Brown, the powerful speaker of the California State Assembly.

“Bear in mind that Ann and I are Republicans,” he says. “However, we much prefer working for Democrats. For many years, we did all of the work for Assembly Democrats.”

One of the most interesting campaigns was right here in Lemon Grove when Steve Baldwin was running for the Assembly, Jim says. It was one of hundreds of campaigns but probably the most famous mailer he did. It helped Tom Connolly defeat Baldwin. The mailer read: “When he claimed the United States Air Force had an ‘official witch’ ... it was funny. But when you learn more about Steve Baldwin ... IT'S NOT FUNNY ... IT'S SCARY.”

“I love negative campaigning and it works,” Jim says. “I designed a lot of these pieces. I am not afraid at all to do a hit piece.”

It was just part of the business, he says, and not unusual to print and mail 100,000 pieces in two days for multiple candidates.

“It is war by direct mail,” he says. “Somebody gets attacked, someone responds and it goes back and forth.”

Ann says working in the world of politics was an eye-opening experience for other reasons.

“A good many of the politicians we worked with, even if we did not agree with them philosophically, they tried very hard to do the very best job possible,” she says. “That was something that was nice to learn. You often hear all of the negative stuff, but there is another side.”

In 2007, after more than three decades of leading the region’s graphics market, the Elliotts decided it was time to sell. Ann said one of her best memories is their last day in business, when she realized that it had been worth all the years of hard work.

“We had a lot of hugs and it was a great day,” she says. “When we thought back on everything that had gone on, we had wonderful experiences and so many incredible things had happened.”

Western Graphics was sold to Eye/Comm Inc., a direct marketing company in Santee.

Jim still sells and creates direct mail packages from his office in Lemon Grove. He says Ann won't let him stay home.

“We had had enough fun," Ann says. "The company that we really wanted to take over did. They were willing to take on all of our employees and that was important to us.”