Reporter’s Notebook

I AM A LUCKY LADY. A BUSY ONE, BUT A LUCKY ONE

Last week I had the chance to speak directly to several political candidates in Southwest Washington – two running for Clark County Commissioner and 11 running for the House and Senate in Washington’s 17th and 18th legislative districts.

Sure, politicians are politicians. Interviewing them during campaign season is not the same as chatting at a potluck. And it doesn’t take long before they start to sound quite a bit alike, even the Ds and Rs. But I and other VBJ writers got what I’ve always thought a citizen should ideally have – face time (or phone time) with the people who want to be in charge of matters that affect everyday people in important ways.

I know it’s not practical for every politician to sit down with every potential voter (though they seem to be trying). So that’s why we’re dedicating our Oct. 17 issue to election coverage. You’ll have a chance to read, in print and online, what all of these political hopefuls think about today’s business climate in Southwest Washington.

It won’t be quite like sitting down to chat with them, but hopefully it will help you make your decisions in the coming election. Because voting is on the top of your to-do list, right? Right? I hope so.

Charity Thompson can be reached at cthompson@vbjusa.com