Tamano - Elections?

I believe this is for elections for something in Tamano. It is pretty normal around Japan to hear blaring "arigatou gozaimashita"'s followed by somebody's name and more around town even before you see the car finally pass (amped up speaker cars). That being said, this was at night, and they were going down the snack-bar district area of Tamano stopping at each storefront handing out thankyou's and waving little flags with the person's name written on them. Strange. The crowd too was families, some elementary school kids recognized me and acknowledged me with the usual "niiru sensei!"