Candidate forum made choices clear

To The Eagle:

'Tis the season of high political theatre and the first two presidential debates did indeed provide great drama with President Obama doing a dispirited defense of the indefensible and Vice President Biden attempting to avoid defending the indefensible with a squirming, eye-rolling, interrupting tantrum worthy of a five-year-old, (apologies to any five-year-old who may be reading this.) Our own candidate forum in Grays River last week was more sedate, but it had its entertaining moments and provided some really clear distinctions between the candidates.

Our state level incumbents, Hatfield and Blake presented some razzle-dazzle on the important work they were doing for us, but mainly worked at showing that they weren't as bad as them there other liberals up in Olympia. Challengers Rick Winsman, Dixie Kolditz and Tim Sutinen all competently made the case for less government spending and regulation and more local control and personal responsibility.

In the county commissioners race, Joan Harvey Chester got off to a strong start by waving around a copy of the county's Comprehensive Plan, revealing the deliciously scandalous fact that we had spent $99,000 of taxpayer money producing the silly thing. Then, for reasons unknown, she turned around and adopted it as her campaign platform, exhorting us to not only follow its precepts but update it as well. Opponent Dan Cothren indicated they had done the plan because it was required by law and then got back to dealing with the real world.

The other county commissioner race was defined by a question about the odious Columbia Land Trust. Mike Backman indicated they should think more about what they're doing. Greg Prestegard was more critical, and after being treated to a defensive lecture by a heckler in the audience, stuck by his guns, reiterating that the CLT should complete its projects and not damage adjoining properties.

In the PUD race, Gene Healy expressed his enjoyment of the job and briefly reviewed his impressive credentials. Lisa Marsyla devoted much of her time to regretting her decision to step down from the county commissioner job and explaining that although she has a child in school in Portland and a home in Portland, her real home is here.

Seems like real clear choices to me.

Howard Brawn

Puget Island