It’s a sad commentary. Signs being vandalized and stolen are one thing – seems to be the nature of political campaigns in Lake County. It’s wrong, but done apparently in the dark of night so there’s not much risk of getting caught. Oh well.
 
Then, there are the sheriff’s debates. First, let me applaud the students at Yuba College and their professor for conducting a fair and orderly debate. Nicely done. Also the debate at the Middletown Luncheon Club was also fair and professionally moderated. Another nice job.
 
As for the debates in Kelseyville and Middletown, sad commentary abounds.
 
In Kelseyville, the sponsors of that debate (Lake County Peace Officers Association) had already endorsed sheriff candidate Brian Martin, an important fact not disclosed to the audience. Sometimes these stunts, once exposed, have unintended consequences at the voting polls. Time will tell.
 
Then there was the debate in Middletown (Middletown Area Town Hall) where the questions seemed geared to put incumbent Sheriff Rivero on the defensive and the only question allowed from an evident Sheriff Rivero supporter was rejected by the moderator.
 
Maybe in the big scheme of things debates don’t matter all that much. They seem to draw mostly supporters of the respective candidates, who square up on opposite sides of the room – like rival teams – complete with cheerleading squads.
 
It is said that in love, war and politics anything goes. Maybe it does and maybe fair play doesn’t really enter into the picture. It is, after all, politics (and love/war relationships).
 
Thankfully, there is one place in the political arena where fair play is assured – the privacy of your home or the voting booth at voting time.
 
We the people. Has a nice ring, doesn’t it?

Nola Montgomery lives in Lower Lake, Calif.