CAMPAIGN - News-Review Editorial Board

     Today was a good day. I don't know if I scored many brownie points or not, but I felt good about what I accomplished. Perhaps it was the trepidation about wearing a jacket and tie for the first time in two years that gave me some uneasiness....especially when I discovered that only one other person at both the editorial board meeting AND the evening banquet that I attended, were wearing a jacket and tie! But considering that both functions were important events, I didn't regret overdressing, IF it was indeed overdressing.
     I am glad that I had the opportunity to participate in the News-Review editorial board meeting, where five newspaper staff members questioned the seven candidates for Douglas County Commissioner. Whether or not the newspaper endorses me for the position is secondary for me right now. That's because I welcome ANY coverage of the commissioner's race. And, one of the newspaper members present was a reporter. So I'm looking forward to the prospect of the News-Review writing an article about our meeting, as a separate item from the editorial board's decision.
     The most intriguing question asked during the meeting was, "IF you were forced to drop out of the race, which one of your opponents would you vote for?" This is sometimes considered a no-win question, regardless of whether or not an answer is given, but the question tests the character of the candidate involved, and reveals insights that the public might not otherwise find out about.
     Four of the candidates (Glen Nielsen, Dale  Rogers, Monte Smith, Mark Vincent) chose not to answer the question, often citing that they felt they were the best qualified candidate, and so it wasn't possible to consider someone else.
     Three of the candidates answered the question. Mick Fummerton would vote for Monte Smith, Tim Freeman would vote for Monte Muirhead, and Monte Muirhead would vote for either Tim Freeman or Monte Smith. Here is the basis for my answer.
     When answering the question, I said that I am a very issues-oriented person. I vote for someone based on where they stand on the issues, not necessarily their personality or how well I know them. But I also said that I am disappointed with this particular election, because there has been little public discourse about the Douglas County Commissioner's race. Put simply, I don't know where all the candidates stand on the issues.
   Because I have a lack of information about the candidates' opinion, I would resort to "Plan B" when making a decision: Choose the candidate whom I may know personally or have a past connection with. Tim Freeman and Monte Smith are those two candidates for me.
    When I was working at KMTR-TV, former Roseburg City Councilor Tim Freeman took time off from his schedule to meet me at the site of a future public safety center. Tim treated me with respect to help me obtain information for a news story. Several years before that, when I was working at KOBI-TV, former Oregon State Police trooper Monte Smith was one of the investigators at a traffic accident scene in Jackson County. Likewise, Monte treated me with respect and took a few minutes to do an interview so that I could obtain some basic information about the accident.
     Does that mean that I would not vote for the other candidates? No. But due to the fact that I currently have inadequate information about all of the other candidates, I am forced to use some other type of criterion (my past professional working experience with Freeman and Smith) to make a decision. Some people may frown at my answer. But I believe that any answer is better than dodging the question altogether.
     Truth be known, if I had a problem in voting for any candidate in a particular race, I would write in the name of someone else whom I prefer. I've done that numerous times in the past.
     All in all, I believe today was a good day.