The 2011 political season is one I will not soon forget.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
It ranks up there as one of the most interesting I have been involved in for several years.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
I recall thinking around May how the races looked a little quiet compared to recent years.\u00a0 I could not have been more wrong.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
When the votes were tallied Nov. 8 star reporter Kris Hill said she should write a boom-kick musical comedy about this one.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
It was different.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
This year I was covering five cites \u2014 each with city council races. Covington was the only one without a contentious race or issue boiling either under the surface or over the top of the pot.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Black Diamond ended up with the widest percentage margins with both incumbents losing by more than 40 percent.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The YarrowBay master planned developments has created a ground war in that city and the next couple of years are going to be well worth watching for all the surrounding city officials, residents and potential developers.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Athenians learned a long time ago your friends can be much more dangerous than enemies. They fought the Persians, but their empire was brought down by their neighbors, the Spartans.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Maple Valley was a classic case of political miscalculation. If you have a seriously damaging political issue in your past like a bankruptcy don\u2019t wait for a newspaper, or me, to find it. It\u2019s always hard to play catchup.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The most important adage that came out of that town is when it comes to politics, don\u2019t listen to your friends, or people carrying a political ax. Those axes have a way of swinging both ways.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The candidate who can tell himself the truth, win or lose, is far ahead (and rare) at the end of the race.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Kent races helped me learn about the city at a much deeper level.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The most interesting story I have ever done in the midst of a campaign was with Michael Sealfon. It was not a story I initially wanted to write, but I ended up learning more from him about the heart of a political race and how it effects a candidate \u2013 especially from the losing side.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Sealfon\u2019s case was a classic example of a story everyone would expect should go one way. The paper gets anonymous letters concerning his lifestyle choice of dressing up as a woman and he decides to talk about it as truthfully and frankly as anyone I have ever sat and interviewed. If truth is the measure, Sealfon stood the test.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In another city I misjudged one race because I wasn\u2019t paying attention like I should have been. I have always believed the trick to covering politics at any level is simply paying attention, listening and watching for that certain look that shows the heart of the matter.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
It is there, it just takes patience and time. The problem is time can be what we have the least of in the newspaper business.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The clarion call from this election, and nearly all I have covered, is for candidates to first tell themselves the truth, and then it becomes much easier to tell it to others.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The other is beware of candidates who think they can fool or outwit voters. It happens, but, not very often. The fall can be very long and hard.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Finally, winning can be more deceiving than losing. Winning tea leaves are very hard to read.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Also, a candidate who loses and returns is often a most dangerous opponent.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The good thing about political races is they are like horse races, there will be another trifecta to play and chance to lose, right around the corner.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The 2011 political season is one I will not soon forget.
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