CAMPAIGN - Introduction

     I'm taking a break from posting archive copies of my newspaper column on this blogsite. During the next few weeks, I will be posting entries each day on my blog concerning the Douglas County Commissioner's race and where I stand on the issues.
     In addition to the March blog entries, there's also the "Political Campaign Statement Of Intent" from my November 22, 2013 blog, which provides some details about past Douglas County Commissioner races.
     And if anyone wonders why I should want to run again for commissioner, I would encourage you to read my February 21, 2014 blog, entitled "Abraham Lincoln Perseverance."

     Last November, some people asked me if I were going to run again for Douglas County Commissioner. Considering that I am a stage three cancer survivor who was undergoing chemotherapy at the time, running again for public office was the last thing on my mind. More importantly, I had no money to run a campaign. Eighteen months of surgeries and treatments had created massive medical debt for me. Paying off my cancer debts took first priority.
     But when some of my supporters offered to pay my filing fee and voters pamphlet campaign statement, I began to consider their request. After all, if people had enough confidence in me to fund my basic campaign expenses, then how could I turn them down? I postponed making a decision until my cancer treatments were finished.
     Then, in mid-February, right before I had planned to make a decision on whether or not to run for office, an incident occurred in Medford that attracted front page publicity at both the Medford and Roseburg newspapers. I would have to wait a few more days to make a decision, based on the feedback I received about the Medford incident.
     In the days to follow, I did not receive a single negative e-mail or phone call. On the contrary, everywhere I went....Oakland, Sutherlin, Roseburg....people were very positive and expressing disbelief about what they had read in the newspapers. Put simply, they told me they knew me well enough to know that I am a person of good character.
     If that weren't enough to make me feel good, I received a phone call from one of my past campaign contributors the night that the Medford incident was reported on the front page of the Roseburg newspaper. The campaign donor had read the story in the newspaper, but he said nothing to me about the incident. Instead, the donor was calling to say that he'd like to donate some money to my campaign, if I decided to run again for Douglas County Commissioner!
     I viewed those positive comments and the offer from the campaign donor as signs from above that I should run again. I feel that I truly have much to offer the citizens of Douglas County. I appreciate your support, and I hope you will spend a few minutes in the days to come, reading this blog and getting to know where I stand on the issues.
     Best wishes!
Monte Muirhead