To The Eagle:

On August 5, there was a letter to the editor published persuading people to vote for the “obvious” choice for sheriff.

It is not my intention to persuade one to vote for who I think should be sheriff, but I would like to take a stand for the one candidate who received criticism in the letter.

A comment was made about one of the candidates being arrested. The context of the letter implies that anyone who would vote for this candidate would be foolish, considering the candidate’s past. It is unfortunate that Josh Grasseth, the unnamed candidate, did make some poor choices that led to an arrest.

If he had denied these charges or presented a list of excuses to try and explain them away, then I would say he is unfit for such a position. Instead, Josh has taken responsibility, kept his family together and gives no excuses for what has happened in the past.

He has, in what must be one of the toughest times of his life, kept moving forward and worked to rebuild his character, marriage and reputation. His honesty and willingness to accept responsibility is a rarity among people these days, yet it is a characteristic most people like and expect.

Whether he should be sheriff is ultimately up to the voters to decide. I only ask that voters take into account the honorable way Josh has handled his mistakes.

Ryan Frank

Cathlamet