I met my first guide dog and fell in love with the beautiful golden retriever puppy named Malou who was being trained by Vashon High School’s Char Phillips.

I asked if I might pet the dog, and Malou began kissing me. Thus began my love affair with this lovely dog.

I never realized how hard it would be to be blind until I lost the sight in one eye.

To be able to walk safely down the streets became a real priority, and I knew how important a guide dog would be.

I now appreciate the dedication of our local guide dog puppy trainers and I want to work to raise funds for the guide dogs.

These puppies are provided without cost to the blind, but the costs of caring for, feeding and training the dogs is huge, and supported totally by donations.

My campaign for unofficial mayor of Vashon is to represent all the blind and disabled people who rely on the devotion and love of their seeing-eye dogs. Puppies are raised on Vashon, coordinated through Char Phillips.

I have had many years of fundraising experience, but I am new to the world of the sightless. It is a privilege for me to raise funds for the guide dogs and work for the citizens of Vashon.

— Thea Jones is running for unofficial mayor of Vashon. Her candidacy supports Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Vote for mayor

To vote for Jones, look for a donation jar at various Island businesses, or mail a check to the Vashon Chamber of Commerce at P.O. Box 1035. Mark “Thea for Mayor” in the check’s memo line. The other two mayoral candidates are Jake Jacobovitch, whose campaign supports cocurricular activities at Vashon public schools, and Bridget Lehet, who is running to support Afterschool Adventures and the Vashon Parkinson’s support group.