When first asked to pen a column for the Leader to provide some balance from the conservative side, I had two initial reactions. First, was I conservative enough to fulfill this goal? I just finished a campaign for State Senate to represent our Legislative District 24 as a Republican. But in addition to the many Democrats aghast that any sane person would choose to run as a Republican, I had a small but vociferous minority of local Republicans campaigning against me. My stance respecting women’s reproductive rights, supporting marriage equality, and refusal to be a Trump fan girl threw some conservatives for a loop. But many others could look past those stances and liked my approach to small government, fiscal responsibility, and individual rights.

Second, I agreed that the balance sought was sorely needed. I know many of a conservative ilk who refuse to read The Leader, referring derisively to it as the “Misleader” due to its liberal bent.

And as a subscriber for the last approximately 30 years, I get that. The paper is Port Townsend centric, and PT is certainly very “blue.” During the campaign, I and other Republican candidates were summarily dismissed in an opinion column in The Leader simply because we were Republican (Jason Serinus, July 16, “State officials can preserve and forward democracy.”)

Such dogmatic stances only serve to deepen divides within our community, particularly when not countered by opposing views. I decided to wade in and hope to give a balanced perspective as to what those on the other side, or at least near the other side, are thinking.

This November’s general election saw 70.69% of Jefferson County voters favoring Vice President Kamala Harris, and only 25.61% backing former President Donald Trump. Similar ratios were exhibited down ballot. For example, Republican legislative candidates pulled only 29-31% within the County, and statewide executive offices faired similarly. If you are reading this column, you were far more likely to have been in the blue camp, and to have been both thrilled over state results and bereft over federal ones.

But please stop to consider that a quarter or more of your neighbors likely had the polar-opposite reactions. I for one am not ready to dismiss either “side” as being unworthy of respect or to summarily conclude that such individuals are unthoughtful or do not want what is best for our community. To take such positions, I would need to disown half of my family and many dear friends, something I refuse to do.

Are you willing to disown 25% of your neighbors who may disagree politically with you? I would hope our community is better than that. But during my campaign I met many Republican residents of Jefferson County who feel that they must keep their political views hidden to avoid shunning. I also met one conservative businessman who saw his business plummet when he previously went public in supporting Republican candidates. And others that wisely chose to be discrete to avoid their businesses suffering the same fate. Where is the tolerance of which we are so proud? Does it not extend to people who think differently than ourselves?

I assume a good number of Jefferson residents voted for Harris because they agreed with that for which she stands. I believe, based on many conversations at doors this last year, that many others voted for Harris simply because she was not Trump. And that Trump-disdain carried itself down the ticket for anyone with an “R” behind their name.

I know many who voted for Trump cited fatigue with inflation, run-away political correctness, and perceived governmental overreach. Others may have been troubled by both Trump’s lack of civility and the events of Jan. 6, 2021, but could not get comfortable that Harris had truly left behind the very progressive views she espoused in 2020.

Come January we will have one party in majority control federally, and one in majority control of the state. These situations are both potentially problematic. But I hope, this time, the Republicans in control at the federal level will take steps to rein in the growth of our deficit. At the state level, I hope that the Democrats will support law enforcement and rendering our educational system once again effective. I know local conservatives support those goals, and certainly hope those on the other side of the divide do as well.

Many of your neighbors I spoke with this year are concerned about tyrannical government and loss of democracy. It may surprise you that I heard these concerns from both sides, though the specifics vary. Your neighbors of differing political stripes may have more in common with you than you realize.

Marcia Kelbon is an attorney and engineer based in Quilcene.