Pacific County citizens received our general election ballots last week. (If you didn’t, contact the elections office at 360-642-9317.) In Washington, all ballots are counted so long as they’re postmarked no later than election day, which is Nov. 8 this year. But why procrastinate? If you don’t know who you’re voting for by now, perhaps you never will.

Although I was quick to vote and certainly have personal preferences, my aim is for my opinions to not be reflected in the Chinook Observer. That’s one reason why I have become less and less willing to make candidate endorsements over the years. People may guess (often inaccurately) what my politics are, but I prefer not to try to impose them on anyone else.

The news media assessment service mediabiasfactcheck.com recently rated the Chinook Observer “LEAST BIASED: These sources have minimal bias and use very few loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes). The reporting is factual and usually sourced. These are the most credible media sources. Overall, we rate the Chinook Observer Least Biased and High for factual reporting.”

Other online databases will reveal that I’ve donated money to Republican and Democratic candidates over the years, and I’ve made no secret of the fact that my last job before becoming editor here was helping run a GOP gubernatorial campaign. I get frequent fundraising solicitations from candidates on every point of the political spectrum — including this year from some truly obnoxiously extreme ones. But my donations, like my votes, are based on the person, not the party.

I first went doorbelling during my Dad’s race for judge back in the early 1970s and then spent the summer of my 15th year with a bunch of other young volunteers on a wild, wonderful and transformative campaign for a family friend who was running for statewide office. It would make a fun movie script. I wish more people could have the experience.

Although there definitely are candidates I admire more than others, or whose views come closer to mine, just about everyone who runs for public office — at least on the local and county levels — deserves our thanks and respect. Any amount of pay and small-town prestige doesn’t come very close to compensating for all the endless meetings, complaints and after-hours phone calls. Please join me in thinking kindly of them.

As our friend Sid Snyder used to say, we can disagree without being disagreeable. Let’s make that our motto in these occasionally disagreeable times.

As always, I’m so grateful for your continuing support for this community project. The Chinook Observer depends on you.