During this election season, I can’t help but think back 22 years to my grandfather’s final campaign for county treasurer before he retired.

I was overjoyed when my parents said I could help him campaign in his final lap around the political arena back in 1986.

The highlight of the trip was a visit to KIMA-TV. What made the trip to KIMA exciting was the fact I had never been on television before. I remember sitting in the fourth row of the live studio audience with my grandma.

Grandpa was in the green room collecting his thoughts and going over his prepared remarks. The studio audience was made up of family members and close friends of the candidates. Before and after commercial breaks, the audience members were to hold up signs for their candidate. I tried to make sure my Dale Gray for Yakima County Treasurer sign was the first to go up and the last to come down. I wanted to be the best junior PR representative my grandfather could have.

The night after my introduction to political campaigning, KIMA aired the Democratic candidates’ remarks. Grandpa took out a notepad to take notes on what his opponent said. Before I knew it, grandpa’s opponent took his place on the dais behind the microphone.

When my 10-year-old virgin eyes and ears heard the political vitriol against my grandfather, I was outraged. I think I was more upset than my grandpa about what that smear merchant said about him. Grandpa took it all in stride and chalked it up to the game of politics.

My grandfather never engaged in a smear campaign. He always spoke of his accomplishments and strengths. He did not want to stoop to the level of mudslinging, nor did he. He showed me the difference between speaking the truth and mudslinging. He proved to me that while you can point out how your opponent differs with you on substantive issues, a candidate for public office doesn’t need to resort to hyperbole when deconstructing the other side’s view.

I don’t know how he would have fared in today’s instant message, YouTube, blogosphere political mechanism. I think he would still come out on top with the voters, but it would be a struggle. That’s why I have no doubt that grandpa was happy to retire at the end of his term in 1990.

If my grandfather were alive today and knew that there were watchdog blogs on the Internet like there are for Tara Johnson and Dan Kapanke (if the blog is restarted) for state Senate, he’d probably roll his eyes, shake his head, and comment on how glad he is not to be in the political arena.

Columnist Tim Gray, a West Salem resident, can be reached at tim.gray.matter@gmail.com.