Ladies and Gentlemen, as of today I am running as a write-in candidate for the elected Chair of the Board of County Commissioners.

There were a number of factors that lead me to decide to run, the first of which I must credit to some statements made here on MCS when Harold Rutledge became the first announced candidate for the position.

"Congratulations to Commissioner Rutledge for filing. Now we need a quality candidate to run against him."

"Everyone needs to earn a spot on the Commission."

"We need a quality candidate to run against Commissioner Rutledge so one person does not walk into the Chairman seat uncontested for the next four years."

"No one should be allowed to walk in."

I agree 100 percent with those statements.

Soon after Rob Bradley also announced his candidacy, Mr. Rutledge dropped out. That was his choice, and I respect it, though I wish he hadn’t. What I haven’t seen from the group that wanted opposition for the first chairmanship is a hue and cry for someone to run against Mr. Bradley. Apparently it makes a difference when the only candidate is the one you want to win.

Now, do I meet their definition of a "quality" candidate? I’m sure they’ll let you know if you ask. Actually I don’t think you’ll even have to ask. I’m pretty sure that you will see their response soon. My guess is that they won’t think so.

Another factor is my desire to ensure the process works. As stated, no one should be able to just walk in. This country was founded on the premise that the individual voter should have a say in who serves in any given office.

An unopposed candidate is not a choice. I do not believe that the ability to raise $50K in campaign donations should leave the voters without a choice.

Apparently my tongue-in-cheek question about should I run got some dander up somewhere. Questioning my competence to do a job is not the best way to shut me up and make me go away.

Those are not all the reasons I decided to run as a write-in candidate in November's election, but for now they will do.

Do I think that I could possibly win this seat? Ladies and Gentlemen, honestly, I think there is a better chance of me winning the Lotto. On the other hand, it could just be that the voters of Clay County are tired of the same old faces.

But that is not the issue. The issue is that with no one running against him, Rob Bradley wouldn't even have to get out of bed to vote for himself.

This way, at least his name will be there on the ballot (mine won’t) with a write-in spot available for my name to be written in. People will actually have to make a choice.

Some (most?) may think it isn’t much of a choice, but that’s OK. At least now, the first four-year chairman of the BCC will have to do something to get at least 2 votes, 3 if my lovely bride votes for me, too.

My warped mind says this is a good thing because right now we are in a dead heat. Neither one of us has ever received even one vote for an elected position on the BCC.

The voters will really have 3 choices. They can vote for Mr. Bradley; they can write in my name; or they can leave that whole block blank. I heard a lot of talk recently about how one Commissioner was elected by 1,100 votes.

If the voters don’t want to vote for either of us, they can leave the block blank. It is a chance to tell the winner that they may be the Chair but not because an overwhelming majority of Clay County wanted them to be.  That would certainly send a message that, if there is a next time for electing the chairman, someone else could probably step in and win.

Regardless of the election's outcome, the voters will have a choice and the process will be given an opportunity to work as it was meant to.

Besides, the Don Quixote in me says this is a windmill that is begging to be charged.

Michael Heemer, Write-in Candidate for Chairman, Board of County Comminssioners