Part 2, November's Commissioner Race

      I'm not actively campaigning for, or writing any letters to the editor for, the November election of Douglas County Commissioner. But I have decided to put a Gary Leif campaign sign in our yard. I have nothing against any of the other candidates and I wish them all well in the upcoming election. I hope all of them (there are now six) each receive at least ten percent of the vote!
     When I ran for county commissioner in 2002, Gary Leif took my photo to be used in the voters' pamphlet. I don't remember much of our conversation, but I've always remembered one comment that he made to me: "There can only be one winner." Leif was referencing the fact that the 2002 Republican primary for county commissioner was highly competitive among four candidates, including myself. Each of the candidates had qualifications and experience from different backgrounds, but there could only be one winner.
     I believe Leif's point was that the race for Douglas County Commissioner isn't (or shouldn't be) a popularity contest among winners and losers. Even though only one person wins the job, that doesn't mean that the other candidates wouldn't be equally effective and do just as good of a job as the winner. In the end, the "winner" is the person who is able to get their message out best to the voting public.
     When I ran again for Douglas County Commissioner in the May, 2014, primary, there were seven candidates vying for the job. One of our candidate forums was before the Liberators group at Round Table Pizza in Roseburg. During the candidates' remarks, the person who ended up winning the election was comparing himself to the other six candidates. He stated that among his six opponents, two were "retired," two were (something to the effect of unable due to lack of experience), and two were "unemployed."
     As I sat there with a smile on my face, my mind was quickly trying to determine which one of those categories that I supposedly fell into. I concluded that I must be one of the "unemployed." It was true, I was not working at the time. But that was because I had just recovered from a 17-month battle with CANCER, and had become cancer-free right before the filing deadline to file for county commissioner.
     I had never considered myself "unemployed" during the prior 17 months. I had been disabled, as defined by the federal government who had issued me Social Security disability payments. I thought it was a cruel and thoughtless comment to make, for a political candidate to use one's prior illness as a reason as to why voters should not vote for them. (Of course, my candidacy all became a moot point, as I was diagnosed with having a stage four cancer tumor the week before the election.)
     When I ran for office, I made positive comparisons about my qualifications against my opponents. For example, I said I was the only candidate with a Master's degree. I didn't say that all my opponents were uneducated boobs. I did NOT feel that way about my opponents; I am simply giving a comparison between positive and negative campaigning.
     I believe Gary Leif is that kind of an individual: Someone who is pro-active about campaigning and pro-active in addressing solutions to problems. History may prove me wrong in that assumption. But for now, I am happy to place a Gary Leif sign in my yard. Besides, I think his green tree-lined campaign signs are the most creative, colorful-appealing signs that I've seen in awhile. But that should NOT be the reason for placing one in a person's yard. :)