Embrace the Suck

On the fireline, when the crew was worn out, we had a saying: “Embrace the suck.”

It meant: accept the hard part, and keep going. Don't pretend it isn't hard. Don't complain your way through it. Just take it on, do it right, and get to the other side together.

The hard part is part of the job

Every job worth doing has a part nobody likes. On a fire crew, it's the long days, the heat, the hiking and the digging. In most offices, it's the careful, repetitive work that has to be right every single time, even when nobody is watching.

I've learned that the people you can count on are the ones who don't skip the hard part. They embrace it.

What that means for the Clerk's Office

A lot of the County Clerk's work is that kind of work. Checking. Recording. Double-checking. Keeping records accurate and elections secure, one step at a time. It isn't glamorous, but it's what makes people able to trust the result.

That's the kind of work I'm ready to do. My priorities are secure and transparent elections, easier digital access to public records and licensing, and clear, responsive communication with every resident. All three take steady effort, especially on the days it's hard.

The general election is November 3, 2026.

— Jon Curtis

Learn more: jonathancurtis2026.netlify.app

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