I am not resentful of candidates who campaign while serving in office. Some are competent to multitask. I do, however, somewhat resent candidates running for higher office mid-term; especially when the appointee most likely to succeed them is on the opposite end of the political spectrum. It is also disappointing when a candidate wins his party’s primary and then threatens to drop out of the race. This has happened twice recently in Buncombe County.

Top vote-getter in the Republican primary race for county commissioner Joe Dunn announced yesterday he was dropping out. He cited annoyance with politicians who seek only re-election rather than the welfare of their charge as a major reason.

I am saddened by Dunn’s move. Now that he is out of the race, I believe it is safe to say he was my favorite candidate. I can understand his decision, though. Dunn was the member of city council who threw my application for school board into the ring for interviews. Regardless, I dropped out of the race because remarks of petty jealousy made by one of Dunn’s Republican peers shot me down enough to believe I wasn’t worth wasting a half hour of council’s time for the interview. Live and learn.

In the second incident, Dr. Carl Mumpower threatened to withdraw his candidacy after securing the Republican nomination for its Congressional candidate unless a majority of counties in his district formally declared allegiance to the Republican Oath. The act is keeping Mumpower’s name in the headlines. Though it may just be a clever plot to drum up more publicity, the party’s leadership in some counties is resisting the invitation to lick Mumpower’s boots. They claim his antics are so divisive, they could care less if Democrat Heath Shuler defeats him.

Incidentally, the Oath, in my opinion, is a far cry from the NC Republican platform.