PAT JENKINS J.T. Wilcox is a reluctant frontrunner in his bid to win another term as a state representative. Reluctant to wave an early flag of victory, that is. And there's nothing wrong with that. He has the right idea when he says he doesn't take anyone or anything for granted despite his runaway victory in the recent primary election. Wilcox rolled up 71 percent percent of the votes. That's big, by any standards or measure. The Republican's opponents were Steven Nielson, who finished second with 19 percent of the votes and is now hoping to make up a lot of ground in the general election that will conclude Nov. 4, and Rick Payne. Both were minor-party candidates GÇô Nielson as a Libertarian, and Payne as a member of the Marijuana Party. Shortly after voting ended Aug. 5 and there were enough preliminary results to indicate Wilcox was the prohibitive leader of the race, one poster to Wilcox's Facebook campaign page wrote disparagingly about Nielson and Payne, and added, "Not trying to burst your bubble, Mr. Wilcox, but were you really worried?GÇ¥ To which Wilcox replied, "I felt confident, but you have to respect the process.GÇ¥ Exactly. Wilcox indeed should be confident. He has demonstrated his electability by winning two previous two-year terms in the Legislature, and handicappers of this year's election who predict a relatively easy re-election for him are right so far. But that doesn't mean he has to disrespect his opponents. Just the fact they're willing to be candidates deserves a modicum of respect. Wilcox said as much when he also wrote on his Facebook page that most people who run for public office "truly do want to serve to the best of their ability. If you know people who are running for the first time, give them a hug whether they won or lost, please.GÇ¥ Neither Payne (whose Marijuana Party affiliation put him in step with a group whose mission statement includes "it is time for the 20 million-plus Americans who smoke marijuana on a regular basis to stop hiding their love for this plant and unite as one large body of votersGÇ¥) or Nielson spent much, if any, money in the primary campaign. But Nielson, comparing himself to David in the showdown with Goliath, promises to wage a never-say-die effort in the general election. Nielson deserves credit for giving voters a choice, just as Wilcox, who ran unopposed for re-election two years ago, deserves kudos for taking Nielson's challenge at face value.
Dispatch editor Pat Jenkins can be reached at editor@dispatchnews.com and 360-832-4697.
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