Long-time Coroner Robert West explains to SReporter Alison Boggs why he decided to endorse Deputy Coroner Debbie Wilkey for his job: "Three months ago, I would have chosen to stay completely out of it. But my feeling is that the coroner’s job is a ‘full-time, boots on the ground’ requirement. You’ve got to be committed to getting up at 2 o’clock in the morning and driving to wherever it is – Plummer or Harrison or Athol. That requires a lot of commitment and it also requires people that have demonstrated working relationships with law enforcement and with funeral homes and with the public. You can’t run the coroner’s office from your desk and you can’t run it from home. I’m not law enforcement and I’m not the prosecutor. It’s my job to speak for the deceased, the victims, and the only way you can do that is if you’re willing to get out of bed. You have to be there. It’s not something that will wait until 8 o’clock the next morning." Full comment here.

Question: Should Coroner Robert West have stay completely out of this race? Or do you appreciate his endorsement? Does it influence you?