I was a never a lifeguard.

Despite never being a lifeguard, I’m well aware of the dangers of swimming out to somebody who is drowning.

The panicked victim could cling to their would-be rescuer and pull them both down into the depths where they will likely drown.

And I’ve never been an animal handler, and I’m not trained in conflict resolution, but I understand that animals and people (basically highly evolved animals) when backed into a corner will attack. There’s also the phrase “come out swinging.”

I was pretty sure Grays Harbor County Commissioner Frank Gordon would come out swinging after his challenger accused him of uprooting campaign signs and tossing them in a ditch. The challenger set up a trail/game camera and caught pictures of Gordon with campaign signs in his hands.

Gordon says he saw the signs down and picked them up and moved them to one of his challenger’s larger signs so they could be found and put back up. There are no pictures showing what Gordon did with the signs that were in his hand. Commissioner Gordon did not deny that he was in the pictures with his challenger’s signs in his hands, but he did say he was set up.

The Vidette, as well as the other papers in the Grays Harbor Newspaper Group (The Daily World, North Coast News, East County News and South Beach Bulletin), ran a story either online or on the page, about the incident and some included the pictures provided by the accuser. Another newspaper, not part of the Grays Harbor Newspaper Group, also ran the pictures.

The pictures were cropped to varying degrees to fit the space on the page and to fit the frames on the websites.

Last week, on Sept. 20, Gordon was interviewed on KBKW’s morning radio show.

If you haven’t heard it, it’s available on the radio station’s website. It’s an uncomfortable interview that goes on and on, never really becoming comfortable, and perpetually confrontational.

Many callers got into arguments with Gordon, with one saying Gordon has been defaming him, to which Gordon replies, “Why don’t you go ahead and sue me, sir? I would love to have you do that. You don’t have the balls.”

During the interview, Gordon also claims the photos in the paper are “doctored.” It was unclear if Gordon was accusing The Vidette or The Daily World of “doctoring” photos, or if he was referring to the other paper he mentioned.

On Monday, Sept. 26, I asked Gordon to clarify his comments. Specifically, I wanted to know which paper he was accusing of doctoring the photos, and what, specifically, he meant by “doctored.”

“Just flat out cold, the pictures that are in the Harbor Herald and in the papers are different pictures, and one shows vehicles and all of that — And you know something, I don’t even want to talk at you, my friend, OK. Let’s just leave it at that. I’m not really interested in talking to you, thank you very, very much,” Gordon said when I asked him to clarify. He stood up from the table and left the meeting, which was the weekly afternoon county commissioners’ meeting, before it was adjourned.

It’s not the first time Gordon has stormed out of a county meeting, and to the best of my recollection neither of the other sitting commissioners have since I’ve been covering their meetings.

While on the radio on Sept. 20, a caller accused the radio station of setting up Gordon again. The caller said Gordon’s campaign was told the interview would be only 20 minutes. The radio host immediately corrected the caller pointing out that all of the candidates for county commissioner were given an hour.

In general, the interview was a train wreck. Another situation in which Gordon has been accused of taking someone else’s campaign sign off a fence post was somewhat pacified when the property manager called into the radio station and said she gave Gordon permission to take it down (corroborating comments Gordon had made when the accusations first arose).

Some people called in to state their support, some called in to ask Gordon to talk about the issues facing the county, but most of the conversation surrounded the pictures and campaign signs.

Gordon’s reaction has been the very definition of the phrase “come out swinging:” He and his campaign are accusing the radio station of setting him up with the interview (and said the radio station took down a campaign sign for his challenger because TV news stations were coming to town); they’re accusing the challenger of setting him up; they’re accusing the newspapers — every newspaper, whether related or not — of doctoring photos.

And the accusations of doctoring photos leads to another question: What does Commissioner Gordon have to gain by accusing the newspapers of doctoring the photos? He’s already admitted to moving the signs. He’s never denied that the photos show him with his challenger’s signs in hand? What could he possibly gain from the accusations?

One has to wonder as they watch or listen to the situation unfold how long and how far it can be taken before permanent damage is done to the integrity of the office of county commissioner. Insulting the public? Accusing the media of doctoring photos? Accusing the radio station of a setup?

On Tuesday, Gordon’s campaign announced his campaign trailer, which he has parked at different areas throughout his district, had been stolen. The Gordons are offering a $100 reward for information that leads to the return of the cart and signs.

Hopefully the trailer is found.

And while missing campaign signs have dominated the headlines and airwaves, it’s essential that the issues facing the county take center stage moving forward. What will each candidate do for the county? Who is the best person for the job?

I look forward to the end of the shenanigans.