Bloglander

UPDATE: Nancy McLaughlin's doubts appear to have subsided. 

This morning, she sent out an e-mail:

"After encouragement from friends and elected officials, but more importantly after conversations with my husband, Dave, and seeking guidance from the Lord, I am declaring my candidacy for appointment to the soon to be vacated position on Spokane County's Board of County Commissioners."

Original post

A week ago, Nancy McLaughlin, a former ally of County Commissioner Al French when they served together on Spokane City Council, told the Inlander she had decided to run for Todd Mielke's vacated seat on the Board of County Commissioners. 

But now, she says, she's having second thoughts. 

"I probably should just not have jumped the gun," McLaughlin says. "I’m excited, because I’m going, wow, I’m the most qualified... [But] the reality of it is that it’s getting back into the fray again... I’m really praying through whether or not I have the fortitude to put up with a possible 10 months of drama, and rather or not it’s the right thing for my family."

In her previous races, for positions on Spokane City Council and the state legislature, she's had confidence that, win or lose, running a hard-fought race was exactly what she wanted to do. But this time, there's a lot more unease. She discusses this disquiet in spiritual terms.
 
"I’ve been a Christian long enough, I understand when I have peace," McLaughlin says. "I still feel I’m struggling in my spirit. I’ve got to figure out what that struggle is. Is it fear? What is it I’m struggling with?" 

She says she wants to make sure she has a team around her willing to run her campaign, and feel confident in fighting for her seat until November. Some of the challenge is logistical.

"I’ve got a couple trips planned," McLaughlin says. "I’m going to take them no matter what."

She has a vacation scheduled for March and a trip to see her mom this summer, she says. And some, she says, frown upon taking vacations in the middle of a hotly contested race. 

It's not that she's being urged not to run from the outside. Quite the opposite. Her husband is supportive if she wants to run, she says, and the people who have been talking to her have been pushing her to run. It's just her own doubt that is plaguing her. 

"I’m getting a lot of great pressure from people who want me to run," McLaughlin says. "It’s just me deciding to pull the trigger.... Those pieces I think will fall into place, I just have to know that I know that I know."