Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s impact on the 2016 elections has been as polarizing as any since Barry Goldwater back in the 1960s.

Views on Trump run from adoration to hate and fear, with some comic relief. Nationally, many of the traditional establishment Republicans are either not endorsing him or doing so with less than a full measure of enthusiasm. Hilary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has a feel of inevitability about her while Bernie Sanders sparks a passion that engenders loyalty. The Democrats seem comfortable with either Clinton or Sanders; even if the comfort dial is lower with Clinton, no one is running from either option.

On the other hand, Washington Republican and United States Senate candidate Chris Vance said he could not support Trump even though it might cost him some votes among other Republicans. That may explain Republican candidate for Washington governor Bill Bryant’s reluctance to comment on Trump at all. Asked about whether he’ll vote for Trump, Bryant kept changing the subject, talking instead about his run for governor. And maybe that’s the smart thing to do: Some local officials of both parties are put off by Trump’s antics and find him divisive.

Due to the importance of the Latino vote, said officials remain shocked by Trump’s re-statement this past week that he’ll build a wall between the United States and Mexico and have Mexico pay for it. Although there is a growing thought that Trump may be correct, since Mexico might see an advantage to building a wall so high it could keep Trump out of Mexico.

I was curious who our local elected officials were going to vote for, as it might tell us more about each one’s personal philosophy. So, given this rather simple question, I asked. Since most office holders are usually more than happy to tell everyone how they feel about any number of topics, I found their answers surprising. Republicans were much less inclined to want to answer the question. One actually started to run away. Others didn’t think it was anyone’s business and frowned at me a lot.

Democrats were much more enthusiastic about their support for either Clinton or Sanders.

The Federal Way City Council has four members who are either Republican or lean in that direction – Kelly Maloney, Mark Koppang, Susan Honda and Martin Moore. Koppang was actually chair of the 30th District Republicans.

Regardless, none of the City Council members said they would vote for Trump, and they also resisted answering the question of whether they would support the Republican party nominee – which, of course, is the same question. I thought I might trick them, but they’re a pretty sharp group and not one of them fell for my clever ploy. A couple said they hadn’t made up their minds yet. Perhaps they’ve seen what happened to Vance and don’t want to upset members of their own party. Democrat-turned-Republican Moore, never one to miss an opportunity, showed the most candor when he said he “wanted to be inspired,” and Trump had “not inspired [him] yet.”

“Yet.” I wonder if he’ll weaken.

The council’s two “mostly independent” members, Jeanne Burbidge and Dini Duclos, had different answers. With a hint of disbelief at the question, Burbidge said, “Can you see me voting for Donald Trump?” After watching her for several years, she’s right: I can’t see her doing that. So put Burbidge in the Hillary category, since I’m not sure I see her in the Bernie category either. The always-direct Duclos said, “I’m voting for Hillary. She can’t do any worse than any of those men!” I don’t think she was referring only to this year’s male candidates.

Lydia Assefa-Dawson is the council’s lone known Democrat, although after she signed up to be part of “Democrats for Miloscia” last year, some Democrats weren’t sure about her affiliation. But she was direct in saying she would support Clinton, which should repair some feelings in Democratic circles. And Republican-turned-Democrat Mayor Jim Ferrell – well, we think “turned”; we’re not completely sure – simply said, “Hillary!”

The school board’s four Democrats, Liz Drake, Claire Wilson, Carol Gregory and Geoffrey McAnalloy, all said that the Democratic nominee, be it Hillary or Bernie, would get their vote. But they each had a preference.

State Rep. Linda Kochmar seemed less than happy with Trump, but she also seems unlikely to vote for a Democrat. Maybe she’ll write in someone. Rep. Teri Hickel, who is running for re-election, echoed others and said it was the most unusual election she could recall and she would wait until the Republican National Convention to make up her mind. Since Trump has the votes to get the nomination at the convention, maybe she’s hoping for a stampede in another direction.

Municipal Court Judge David Larson, a former Republican Precinct Committee Officer who’s running for the Washington State Supreme Court, says judicial ethics do not allow him to comment on his voting plans. I didn’t hear back from State Sen. Mark Miloscia, who’s running for Washington State Auditor, but I’m sure, as a transparent public servant, that Miloscia will send a letter to the editor telling us his intentions in great depth as soon as he reads this column. As will all the others, I’m sure, in the interest of openness with the public.

Ah, of course they will.

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is the former mayor of Auburn. He can be reached at bjroegner@comcast.net.