As we head toward the finish line of one the most angry, bitter, contentious and divisive presidential elections in America’s history, I’d like to pivot and remind you of something fundamental to our existence.
Simple relationships and respect.
Early in my career, a former member of the Washington press corps told me how a fair number of real-life decisions he observed out on Capitol Hill — surprisingly enough — were a result of personalities.
Sure, party labels matter. There always has been and always will be a hefty dose of tribalism, with voting blocs creating winners and losers.
But the point made to me some 35 years ago was that the outcome of certain initiatives depend more than personalities than people realize, irrespective of party labels.
You know, the intangibles.
It was sage wisdom to keep my eyes open, because things aren’t always as they seem.
I see that more often today than I did in 1985, when I was a Florida-based writer in my mid-20s with a few years of experience under my belt, yet hungry to learn more about the nuances of beat reporting.
Batman had Robin. Mutt had Jeff. Peanut Butter still has Jelly.
When one of the Lake Erie region’s most beloved charter boat fish captains, Capt. Dave Spangler, died of leukemia on Oct. 21, my first thought was about his longtime sidekick, Capt. Paul Pacholski.
Those two were more than vice president and president, respectively, of the Lake Erie Charter Boat Association.
They were brothers, bound by water.
Clean land, clean air, and clean water shouldn’t be a political issue.
We all know it is.
But these two were a longstanding tandem with enormous respect from both political parties and an unwavering commitment to Lake Erie, regardless whether Democrats or Republicans got credit.
They just wanted a clean and healthy Lake Erie. In an effort to meet that objective, they testified and took notes at countless hearings. Almost without fail, they sat side-by-side.
In 2012, they formed a team of charter boat captains that has been pulling near-weekly water samples from Lake Erie.
They did conference calls together and worked together to take anyone and everyone out on the water.
In 2018, I brought a group of 50 environmental journalists down to Toledo to see Lake Erie, many for the first time. That shoreline tour was part of the national Society of Environmental Journalists conference in Flint, Mich.
All Paul kept telling me was how he and Dave were so “jacked” about showing the water to so many writers from across North America at one time.
“Dave and I fed off each other. I mean, we really did,” Mr. Pacholski told me the day after his death. “Without question, he made me a better person and a better advocate.”
He jokingly said they were “besties” the past 10 years.
“Everything we talked about was for the betterment of Lake Erie,” Mr. Pacholski said. “I'm lost without him. I’m a high-energy guy with something glib or sarcastic to say. He held his cards a lot closer than I did.”
When Mr. Spangler died, people from both political parties offered tributes.
Several more have come forward since his obituary was published on Oct. 23, telling me what a wonderful, even-tempered, mild-mannered, and well-informed man he was.
Scientists, public officials - you name it.
Shortly after former Gov. John Kasich took office in 2011, I got the same buzz words from his spokesman at the time, Rob Nichols, each time I brought up something environmental groups wanted.
He told me over and over Mr. Kasich cared little what career environmentalists had to say because - according to Mr. Nichols - they were “always trying to move the goalposts.”
Then, the Pacholski-Spangler tandem would get on a conference call or step up to a microphone, and suddenly the same message was getting through to the governor.
Mr. Spangler didn’t live long enough to see Lake Erie restored to the way he wanted.
Truth is, many of us alive today probably won’t.
Still, we try.
Mr. Pacholski jokes how he was the “bad cop” of a “good cop/bad cop” routine.
He said he was amused to see Mr. Spangler starting to join him more as a bad cop as he became more impatient waiting for results.
If those two were comedy duo, Mr. Spangler would have been the straight man.
I heard a crackle in Mr. Pacholski’s voice halfway through our conversation when he said this:
“I’m lost without him.”
No, Paul, you’re not.
He helped show you the way.
First Published November 1, 2020, 4:00 a.m.
