In Swisher County, Texas, took place one of the most unusual elections I have ever seen. Yet, it is the way all elections should be conducted. It started off as five candidates vying for the County Commissioner's seat that was open because of the retirement of one of the nicest men I know. The two top vote getters would compete in a runoff. As it turned out, the top three vote getters were all friends that I have known and admired for many years. I'm sure that the other two are also fine men, I just have not had the same privilege of getting to know them that I have had with Trey, Chad, and Mike.

Anyway, the top two guys (Chad and Mike) went about their runoff in as fine a way as I have ever witnessed. They went around from house to house, getting to know people better and finding out about what they needed in a county commissioner. They are both humble men who had a great deal of respect for each other, as well as for the people they desired to represent. I never heard of them uttering one unkind word about the other. In fact, they conducted themselves so well that there were numerous people who had both candidate's signs out in their front yards.

At the same time! For the same election! I wonder if this was the first election in recent history that actually had two men that people wanted to vote for - where all the voters were actually voting for a man, instead of against anyone.

So how did the runoff election turn out? It ended up in a tie! So they had to wait for the mail in ballots so they could discover who the winner was. But they got the same amount of votes in those ballots as well. So they had to roll the dice to see who won. They both rolled a six! So they asked the Judge who was officiating the election what to do, and he said to keep rolling until someone had a higher number. So my friend Mike ended up going on to the general election over my friend Chad. 

I asked Mike how Chad took it. After all, he had spent months of his life in preparation, months campaigning (the right way, as did Mike), and had spent all of the money associated with running for office. And Mike indicated that Chad took it fine, just as I had expected he would. And since Chad is the younger of the two, I can easily see him running for and winning this position when Mike is through.

So, what's the point? It's just that it is so refreshing to see good men running for office in this day and age. It's that it does the heart good to have someone to vote for every once and a while, instead of voting against someone all of the time. It's that it is good to see honor and integrity and courtesy between competitors. We haven't seen that in a political race in a long, long time, and it is a shame. 

We are currently in a political season once again. On a national basis, we are witnessing liars and cheaters on a level rarely seen outside of a communist nation. We have people in power abusing the law, breaking the law, and making up new laws to try and keep power. They may win, but the American people have already lost, for the country that my generation grew up loving is no longer the country we have. It is a discouragement to me to see such criminal conduct amongst those who refer to themselves as "lawmakers" and "judges". The corruption has ruined our land and it is depressing to watch...

but then there are moments like this. Taking place in a small county far from the eyes of most, where a political race between men of honor has occurred. And though it may be a small and laughable thing to the type of men and women who are in power today, it is a big thing to me. So to Mike and Chad (and my other friend, Trey) I thank you for showing how elections ought to be done. And maybe it can give us a glimmer of hope for what might be, should men and women of honor decide that this is a trend worth joining.