Privileged to serve

Another political campaign season is winding down. November 7 will bring a welcome reprieve from the endless onslaught of promises, half truths and innuendos which have filled the airways and printed pages for the past months. We have to wonder if there isn't a better way to conduct our election process. Unfortunately, it's this sort of political activity that brings many citizens to the conclusion that all politicians are scoundrels, and causes them to choose not to participate in the voting process.

As one who has been a participant in the recent campaign process as a candidate, I would like to share some observations. I have been privileged to meet and speak with some very interesting members of our community. I would guess that there have been some folks who would have chosen not to be bothered by a politician's visit, but almost everyone was friendly to me at the door. I have to think that a face to face meeting with a candidate is the best chance that a voter has to make an assessment of that person, especially if a follow up contact number is offered.

One of the most frequent questions I have been asked is "Why do you want to do this?" There have been times when I had to ask myself the same question. The prospect of high pay is certainly not there. The possibility of offending a group of people every time you cast a vote is very high. There is a good chance that you will be solicited by representatives from every special interest group imaginable, who will try to convince you that their cause is the most important. All aspects of your personal life will be open for public scrutiny. The job takes you away from your family, and you will be spending much of your time going to all sorts of meetings.

Nonetheless, the possibility that I will be able to help craft legislation which will make things better for those I represent, makes me know that I have made a good decision to get involved. I will have the satisfaction of knowing that I am not one of those people who just complained about things, but rather had the courage to try and do something about them.

I feel extremely privileged to live in a country which allows a person to be elected to a position of meaningful participation in its system of government, and should I be allowed this opportunity, I look forward to representing House District nine with utmost honesty and integrity.

Edd Blackler

Bigfork