Lessons learned

To the Editor:

I ran for Oneida County Board Supervisor and lost the election; however, I don’t consider it a loss. The conversations I have had with my neighbors filled me with the hope that it is possible to move past what divides us in this polarized political climate, and find what connects us to each other.

I’m not gonna lie, I was a little afraid to go door to door, because I am a well known progressive in a mostly conservative district. I didn’t know what kind of reception I would receive. I worried for nothing — my neighbors all over Pelican Township were gracious, kind, and welcoming when I came to visit, and were eager to hear about the local issues in Oneida County.

I found that we agreed on many local issues. Every single person I spoke to was happy that the Pelican River Forest would be protected for perpetuity. They were also strongly against mining in Oneida County, or basically anywhere in Wisconsin. They all wanted clean air, clean drinking water, and keeping this beautiful area a safe place not only for humans, but also for wildlife. They all wanted something to be done to curb PFAS and other contamination. They wanted stricter rules for wakeboating and other dangers to our lakes and shoreline habitat, such as erosion, salt runoff, and invasive species.

What’s more, I found out what my new friends are passionate about. We talked about all kinds of things, sometimes getting personal. I would watch their faces as they spoke, I saw their eyes light up, sparkling, as they talked about their families, their loves, their spiritual practices, their memories. They radiated joy as they told me their stories, what made them sing and what made them sad. Universally, they love this place, this beautiful place of forests, lakes, rivers, and wide open spaces. 

We are unique from most of the people in the U.S. — we have this gift, the gift of beauty and nature, and we have the privilege of being able to live in a more natural way than our urban counterparts. Even indoor types love it here, and enjoy the peace and the beauty from their windows.

There is one catch, though — we need to actively and proactively take care of our natural resources to keep them beautiful and clean. As Uncle Ben told Peter Parker (aka Spider-Man) “with great gifts comes great responsibility.” We don’t have to go back to living off the land or off the grid, but it is important to be good stewards. We need economic development, but not at the expense of our water, wildlife and habitat. We need to be thoughtful about how we treat this area, and to remember how grateful we are for the privilege of living here. After all, this is truly God’s country.

I want to thank all those who voted for me, and also the people who didn’t, for being so kind and generous with their time. I also want to thank everyone for showing me that we are truly neighbors, and we care about each other, no matter where we fall on the political spectrum. 

Please don’t let outside forces with their own agendas divide us, because we are family. I can’t thank you enough, for everything.

Kathleen Cooper

Pelican