In the past 15 days, I’ve witnessed two candidate events: the Jefferson County Democrats forum with County Commissioner candidates Heather Dudley-Nollette and Ben Thomas, and the CNN Presidential Debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

All compete with ample experience: Dudley-Nollette as deputy executive director of Bayside Housing, former president of the Port Townsend Main Street program, and co-founder of The CoLab; Thomas as Port Townsend City Councilor, chair of Jefferson Transit Board Authority, vice-chair at Jefferson County Fair and Fairgrounds; and Biden and Trump as presidents present and former.

The local Democratic forum’s curious set of questions began with a “Top Three Hit Parade” that asked candidates what issues they expected to face, committees they preferred to sit on, and their budget priorities.

Thomas began to ramble early on and acknowledged, twice, that he should have prepped more for the meeting. After defining himself as a genuine listener who always tries to build toward synergy and win-wins, he couldn’t come up with a third “top issue” he expected to face or third committee he wanted to sit on. Asked how he would weigh priorities between the three districts he’d serve, his response was scattered and unconvincing.

Thomas and Dudley-Nollette disagreed on one issue. Both were asked if a new pool should be funded by all Jefferson County residents via a sales tax, or only by the residents most likely to use it (which excludes people from Queets and, perhaps, Brinnon and Quilcene). Dudley-Nollette said yes if we truly get all voices to the table. Thomas, by contrast, said he would not tax people who won’t use the pool.

Think of all the other city and county services we pay for via taxation, and the broader implications of Thomas’ position. What would happen if every tax were based solely on use? Should people who don’t own cars and walk everywhere not pay for pothole repair, or people without children be absolved from public school taxes? Thomas’ position is shortsighted to the extreme.

If Dudley-Nollette had not consistently evidenced that she has the intelligence, discrimination, vision, compassion, and concern necessary for County Commissioner, Thomas would have scored more points in my book. Instead, he came across as an extremely likable and nice guy who is not up to the task. Only Dudley-Nollette seems fully equipped for the job.

National contest 

The presidential debate left me in despair. At times, Biden resembled a deer caught in the headlights. His entrance was a disaster; he seemed to be reminding himself, “Yes, this is a podium.” Beyond having little voice when he began, he constantly let Trump’s strongly voiced, frequently preposterous lies determine his responses. Biden sputtered out lots of facts, but he jumped from one to the other in a manner that left me wondering if he’d make it all the way through.

Trump, the master liar and deceiver, projected every legitimate criticism of his own actions onto Biden: Biden is a threat to our democracy, to our borders, to Medicare, to our economy, etc. When Trump didn’t want to answer a question, he deflected in such a sure manner that he made Biden look weak and of diminished capacity. The debate was a disaster.

Equally dismaying, in the midst of the most horrendous “culture war” since the anti-Communist witch hunts, no one questioned accelerating attacks on the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ people. It was as if my community was not worthy of attention. CNN and the candidates shoved us to the back of the bus.

Biden should never have run. He did so out of love for this country, ego, and personal animosity toward Trump. Many other competent people love America and its inhabitants just as well. There is no viable third-party candidate. Certainly not vaccine denier Kennedy. 

Biden is boxed in; it’s time to step outside of the box. For the good of the country he loves, he must step aside and let a Democrat who is far stronger, vital, more appealing, and ideally more progressive and visionary run. If Biden will not withdraw willingly, he needs to be read the riot act and replaced. Now. If he stays in the race and Trump wins, we will all know why.

Jason Victor Serinus is a critic of culture, music, and audio. A longtime advocate for rights, equality, and freedom, he is also a professional whistler. Column tips: jvsaisi24@gmail.com