Gratitude is a daily experience for me and, with the Clatsop County commission race now decided, there is a growing mountain of grateful expression and acknowledgments I feel honored to share with you. The people who stood up as a team to build a true grassroots campaign with a progressive candidate are my heroes.

The voters of District 2 shared their heartfelt concerns about local issues and aspirations with our dedicated volunteers and I as we went door to door. For example, my neighbors hoped we could get something done about the traumatic, and too frequent wreckage on U.S. Highway 101 and the unwelcome urbanization of Clatsop Plains.

Our campaign started with great organizers and some pillars of our community. We assembled a coalition of wonderfully diverse people who worked together for the common good while treating each other with dignity and respect.

Those citizens are the lift that made this campaign a true joy. I was honored to have their support and that of neighbors who invited me to chat about their ideas. Anthony Huacuja is also a neighbor, and we anticipate he will carry those issues to the county commission.

As it was such a close race, I am hopeful that he will listen to the diverse knowledge and opinions of our community members, and reflect them in his decisions made on all our behalf. I am grateful for folks of his younger generation stepping up to be public servants. It is a big job, and I wish him well.

TESSA JAMES SCHELLER

Warrenton