By BRIT KRANER

I am the “newbie” on the political scene here on Whidbey Island and the youngest to hold an elected position currently. I am running unopposed for North Whidbey Pool, Parks and Recreation District – Position 1. The position was recently vacated and I was appointed to my seat earlier than anticipated. The views that follow are my own and not representative of NWPPRD or the board of commissioners.

I have participated in several events in support of this campaign season and in support of my selected candidates. I attended the first candidate forum on July 13. With each engagement, I am learning more about the climate that is this election cycle. Largely, the candidates have been diplomatic, thought provoking, informative and respectful. That has not always been the case though.

Aside from having a BA in political science, I am very fortunate for my collegiate career and the opportunities that it afforded me. I was taught some of the most important political skills by the United Nations at the UN headquarters in New York City. Because I taught Model UN at my university as an undergraduate teaching assistant, I was selected to attend a conference hosted by the UN Human Resources Department. I learned the importance of respectful negotiations, diplomacy, decorum and how to remain a compassionate human being while in extremely tense circumstances.

In 2013, the UN Security Council was meeting to discuss whether or not to bomb Syria while I was in the room next to them. This meeting became a fairly historic event when China and Russia decided to leave the meeting without voting. These meetings had been occurring over the course of a few days. Outside of these meetings we would see these diplomats in various places but most frequently in the cafeteria. They would go from these heated discussions, literally call a time out, and go have lunch with one another. This experience was one of the rarest experiences I could have had and one that I value greatly.

It has been on my mind a lot recently as I have gotten more and more involved in the 2023 election, but not in a good way. As I sat and watched the candidate forum, I was stunned by some of the behaviors that I witnessed. The most concerning was that one candidate’s support team was visibly laughing at another candidate as he spoke. There are so many factors that contribute to how a person performs under pressure, in front of the public. While one candidate smirked towards his opponent, another handed him water and supported him the best he could in the moment. I think sometimes the candidates get wrapped up in the horse race and lose sight of what they are actually trying to accomplish.

To speak very directly and clearly, the way you treat your opponent is a reflection of you, and it does nothing to prove that your opponent is not a worthy opponent. I am appalled by the behaviors that I saw from elected members of this community. What I have seen currently is that there is a candidate that has no regard for his visibility in the community or how his constituents would actually interpret their behavior. The people that you choose to have around you, as a candidate, are a reflection of you. As a voter, I am concerned when your biggest focus is on your opponent and not on the task at hand. The person who was attacked by their opponent, they are also your neighbor and, come election time, one of you may be representing the other.

We as a community have to do better and we deserve better.

I would also like to commend Andy Plumlee and Chris Wiegenstein for openly having the decorum and respect that I am calling for from our candidates. They took the time to acknowledge one another and that the campaigns they are running are being run with integrity.

Brit Kraner is an Oak Harbor resident and a commissioner for North Whidbey Pool, Parks and Recreation District.