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GUESTCOLUMN
Election not a life
or death situation
for Gallagher
Losing an election, especially after an
intense campaign, is a tough experi-
ence. Americans this last election night,
whether you voted for him or not, had to feel
sorrow for Mitt Romney. He left the stage wea-
ry and hurting.
So did Ross Gallagher. He had run hard as
always, and for the second time in two years
he had lost. Every candidate recognizes the re-
ality of running: you win, or you lose. And Gal-
lagher is above all a realist.
His style is to be quietly
upbeat, but never overcon-
fident. His admirers would
praise his effort and predict
victory, but Gallagher would
demur. "You never know,"
he would respond in his soft
drawl. You don't declare
victory until the votes are
By JOHN counted and the total is in
KOMEN your favor.
Election night the votes
were not in his favor. Disap-
pointment, yes. But Gallagher is a veteran
politician. He knows the game. He knows that
when a candidate puts his name on that ballot
he runs the risk of rejection. That's part of a
politician's life.
And for Gallagher it is life that is most im-
portant, far more important than winning an
election. For within hours after the results
were in, and Gallagher knew he had lost, he
nearly lost his life.
It happened in Hawaii. Ross and Cathy
Gallagher had left for the island of Kauai the
day immediately after the election. The vaca-
tion had been scheduled long before election
day. They were going to rest and relax after
long weeks of intensive campaigning. Hawaii
with its sun and sandy beaches offered a real
respite from the cold and rainy days of door-
belling, debates and campaign sign waving.
It wasn't long after they arrived on Kauai
before the Gallaghers headed for a popu-
lar beach not far from the resort village of
Princeville. With a boogie board attached by
tether to his wrist, Ross was soon in the surf
and beyond, enjoying the warm Hawaiian wa-
ters. The election and his loss receded in im-
portance. And he began to swim farther away
from shore.
He said he realized he had gone far enough
and turned back. But he had gone too far. Try
as he might, he could make no progress toward
shore. Wind and waves were too strong, and
Gallagher was slowly being driven out to sea.
The boogie board provided flotation enough
to keep him afloat, but he was being buffeted
by waves. He was swallowing too much salt-
water. Clearly, Gallagher was in a dangerous,
life-threatening situation. On shore, a frantic
Cathy was powerless to help.
Then, just in time, help appeared. It was
in the person of a veteran of Hawaiian waters
aboard a small kayak-like craft. Throwing a
line to Gallagher, the kayaker told him to hang
on, and proceeded to slowly tow him to shore.
It was an ecstatic Cathy and an arriving
rescue team that was waiting for them when
Ross and his rescuer reached the beach. Galla-
gher was taken to the hospital for examination
whether he had taken in too much saltwater.
X-rays showed his lungs were OK, and he was
soon released.
Gallagher may not have survived his lat-
est contest for Mason County commissioner,
but he had survived the surf, wind, waves and
ocean currents off Kauai.
Had he lived for another day and another
election campaign? Who's to say? We're not
posing the question to him, at least not yet.
But we know Gallagher loves politics and
thoroughly enjoys the process. We know, too,
there is probably no one who knows Mason
County better than this veteran campaigner.
Every corner of the county is familiar to this
former county commissioner and school board
member. His institutional memory of county
politics and politicians is phenomenal. Over
his many campaigns, he has met and intro-
duced himself to thousands of constituents. As
a campaign door-belier in Mason County, there
is no one comparable.
We shall see what happens. There's another
contest for county commissioner in just two
years.
• John Komen, who lives on Mason Lake,
was for 40 years a reporter and editor, TV an-
chorman, national TV network correspondent,
producer, columnist, editorial writer and com-
mentator. His column, Komen Comment, ap-
pears each week in the Shelton-Mason County
Journal.
Standing water serves a reminder to be safe on the road
"~ 1" 7ater rushed down Olympic quick refresher.' • Avoid driving through standing
~ Highway North Monday af- According to TakeWinterByStorm. water if possible. Additionally, don't
• • ternoon. Drivers slammed org, a service sponsored by the City of drive past road closure signs -- the
on their brakes as they hydroplaned Seattle, King County, Puget Sound En- water may be deeper than you think
through the road's standing water. Pe- ergy and a number of other businesses or could be hiding damaged roads or
destrians took their lives in their hands and organizations, you can take a few downed electrical lines.
as they held their hoods to their heads, steps to make sure you make it from • Don't use your high beams when
Officials placed sandbags on a Point A to Point B safely, visibility is bad. Headlights should al-
number of Mason County roads. The Here are a some tips: ways be on and set to low beam when
Skokomish River near Potlatch sur- • Double check that your vehicle is driving through difficult conditions.
passed flood levels, properly serviced, and its tires, brakes • Slow down. Try to maintain a
And it could get worse, and head and taillights are all working greater following distance on icy or
Rain is still forecasted to continue correctly. Also, the organization sug- wet roads. For large trucks, allow even
through the Thanksgiving holiday gests keeping a vehicle emergency kit, more distance.
weekend as drivers hit our local roads which includes a radio, flashlight, extra • Maximize your visibility by mak-
to travel to visit family members, batteries, a first aid kit, water and non- ing sure your windows and mirrors are
We're used to drizzle, showers and perishable food. defrosted. Keeping the air conditioning
even steady rainfall in Washington. But • Look at the local forecast before on can keep them from fogging up.
we think drivers navigating through hitting the road. If the weather is caus- For more tips on wet or winter driv-
heavy rain and large doses of standing ing road closures, consider an alternate ing, visit www.TakeWinterByStorm.org
water this Thanksgiving should take a route or postponing the trip. or www.wsdot.wa.gov.
County
friend
Editor, the Journal
Mason County lost an
exceptional citizen and
a lifelong friend to many
this past month. Among
tears, drums, songs,
poems, stories and the
posting of our flags last
Thursday, Nov. 15, hun-
dreds said goodbye to one
of Mason County's most
prominent citizens, Dave
Whitener Sr.
His name is synony-
mous with integrity, hon-
esty, caring, lending a
helping hand, education,
friendship and dedication.
He was proud of his Na-
tion and his country. Dave
Whitener Sr. dedicated
his life to serving and he
exemplified the best in
citizenship as a teacher
and mentor.
I had the privilege and
Journal Letter Policy
honor of knowing Dave
most of my life and wit- tothe editor. We will
nessed his happy and car-
ing attitude to all ages local interest. We will not
and walks of life when
we were in high school,
working with him in our
community, and teach-
ing together at Southside the Journal.
School.
Many times, I wit .....
nessed how much Dave
cared for people and the
compassion that he gave of his warm feeling show,
his students and oth- and a person as you I felt
ers. Words from Amanda lucky to know.
Bradley's poem on "Cer- Yes, Dave Whitener Sr.
tain People" best describe will not be a name that
him. will easily be forgotten
Dave Whitener Sr. was for all that he did for oth-
a certain kind of person ' ers, our community and
that was a joy to know. our country. We will miss
Dave Whitener Sr. was him.
a person who knew how to
brighten a day, with heart Annette S. McGee
warming and smiles and Shelton
kind words to say.
A person who knew
how to gently impart, the
comfort it takes to cheer Shelton
someone's heart.
A person who knew how
to always come through, Preschool
when there's anything he
could possible do. is excellent
A person who knew
how to willing share, who
knew how to give and Editor, the Journal
knew how to care. I wanted to take a mo-
Who knew how to let all ment to brag on Anne-
;of
In the story "Deadline to purchase
PUD building passes for senior cen-
ter," the amount of the Community
II Shelton-Mason County 1|
n Mason Count
Shelto - ~ Journal is a member of
usPs 492-800 Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
County Journal~ P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. $37 per year for Mason County addresses,
Published weekly by Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc. $51 per year in state of Washington but outside
at 227 West Cota Street, Shelton, Washington Mason County, $61 per year out of state.
Mailing address: P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584
Telephone (360) 426-4412 * www.masoncounty.com Owned and published by
Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, Washington Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc
Marie Ryan's behalf, as write certain letters and
she has established such learned all his letters
a wonderful preschool by picking them out. He
program for our children knows his numbers, colors
to attend -- the Shelton and shapes, as well. Yes,
Preschool, located on Rail- we as parents teach our
road Avenue. children but so do their
Who knew such a phe- teachers, even at this age.
nomenal teacher would be I have been as involved
in the middle of nowhere! as I possibly can be dur-
I had a vision for my son ing my son's time at this
to attend a preschool pro- school and I honestly
gram for his age group, wouldn't have it any other
which happens to be way.
3-year-olds, and it actu- Both teachers are just
ally meant "preschool." amazing with us parents,
I have been so pleased as well as our kids. Anne-
with the activities that Marie has accepted my
take place in this school, son and myself almost im-
They actually teach mediately.
these children. Aiden When we move on to a
comes home every Tues- new school in Georgia, we
day and Thursday and will miss you and always
is so excited to tell me be wishing you the best.
about his two hours of
school. Kimberly Ballard
He has learned how to Allyn
Development Block Grant applied for $825,000. The grant applicaton was for
by the Mason County Senior Activities $1 million.
Association was incorrectly stated as The Journal regrets the error.
Kari Sleight, publisherAdvertising: Composing room:
Dave Pierik, Sr. Acct. Executive William Adams, graphics
Newsroom" Maggie Burdick, ad representative
Adam Rudnick, editor Pressroom:
Natalie Johnson, reporter Front office: Kelly Riordan, production manager
Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper Travis Miller, press operator
Gordon Weeks, reporter
Emily Hanson, sports reporter Rene~ Chaplin, circulation Mary Northover, press assistant
Cricket Carter, mailroom
supervisor
Page A-4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal- Thursday, Nov. 22,2012
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