Years back I was committee clerk for the Natural Resources Committee, Washington state House of Representatives.

It wasnt that big of a deal, but a plum job that people in power could hand to those they liked hanging around them. In my case, Id done well running, then troubleshooting state-level campaigns and they wanted me within reach for future uses.

Life is full of oddities, and one I encountered came during my second session as committee clerk. Theres a common saying that everyone has an exact duplicate, or look-alike in this world. Ive no clue if thats true or not, but that year in Olympia there was another dude who looked remarkably like me. Being a bit player where my purpose was to perform the tasks of a committee clerk and nothing more, his presence meant little to me. And yet, to my look-alike, my presence at the capital definitely was not a positive thing.

You see, he was Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, meaning he could keep a tight rein on every dollar the House spent, yet couldnt control me.

Push came to shove one day while carrying my boxes of committee books back to home base when a lobbyist approached me entering an elevator and insisted on carrying my committee books. Neither I nor the Ways and Means Committee Chair had any physical disabilities at the time, so Im thinking the lobbyist was hoping to gain points with a major power-broker on the hill.

I had no interest in playing his game, told him the truth of the matter, and immediately lost my volunteer associate committee clerk book-box carrier.

Those who put their names on ballots and campaign for public office, if they succeed, can become vulnerable to heavy peer and public pressure. They need tough skins to survive in an environment where great ideas they might propose, at best, have as much chance of realizing fruition as a non-Farmers Almanac precise-day weather projection 91 days in advance.

I only met two legislative-type guys during my stint in politics whom I truly respected and trusted. One was Chairman on that same Natural Resources Committee. He being a Democrat, I remember one time he went behind closed doors in a Democratic caucus to fight a battle for a Republican-favored cleanup bill for the Puget Sound. He survived and walked across the street to cast the deciding vote following his conscience thus passing that legislation on to the Governors desk.

When he arrived in committee, his shirttail was out, his eyes were red and haggard, and he looked as if hed been in a boxing match with Mike Tyson.

But he did what he believed was right, and I like that.

Try taking U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), who for the past 15 years has been representing Oregons Second Congressional District, including Wallowa County.

Speaking before a friendly crowd in mid-November 2013 at the VFW Hall in Enterprise, Rep. Walden did nothing to hide his frustrations about working in what he views as a partisan political atmosphere in Washington, D.C.

Whether he went behind closed doors to battle with Mike Tyson to ensure that HB 1526 (a forest-related bill with positive vibes for Wallowa County) did pass out of the U.S. House of Representatives is unknown, and yet the public threat of a veto by President Obama, whether anticipated or not, had to smart some.

But thats the nature of politics. Like life as a whole, you win some and you lose some.

All we can do is give our best and look forward.

Jabberwock II columnist Rocky Wilson is a reporter for the Chieftain.