Trudy Sundberg has always been in the minority in Oak Harbor and as a result she is often on the losing side when the votes are counted, but that didn’t stop fellow Democrats from handing her a prestigious honor Friday, Aug. 27.

Sundberg, 81, was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Magnuson Award, presented during the 11th annual Magnuson Awards gala at Seattle’s opera house, Benaroya Hall.

As she walked onto the plush stage to accept her award, the audience was filled with dignitaries, ranging from the evening’s master of ceremonies, public radio legend Garrison Keillor, to Gov. Gary Locke, Sen. Patty Murrary and a host of other party luminaries.

Sundberg said she was surprised when asked to make a comment, but thanks to her history as an English and debate teacher in Oak Harbor, she’s always ready to say a few words. Or, in this case, one long word.

“Honorificabilitudinitatibus,” Sundberg spoke into the microphone, puzzling many in the crowd before explaining that the word comes from Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour Lost.” In short, it means “it’s an honor.”

Sundberg, a tiny bundle of energy who can barely sit still long enough to tell a bit about herself, said she thoroughly enjoyed the big night, especially Garrison Keillor’s presentation.

“For 40 minutes non-stop he had us clapping, singing and crying,” she said.

In the audience was a contingent of Democrats from Island County, and the tears in their eyes were for Sundberg. Those who nominated her for the Lifetime Achievement Award felt she was finally getting her due. The nominating letters they submitted told a lot about how they feel about Sundberg.

“I am nominating Trudy Sundberg because she is the shining star from which all Democrats in Island County navigate,” said Eron Berg, former mayor of LaConner who ran a losing race for State Representative two years ago.

Alec McDougall of Skagit County, another losing candidate from the 10th District, whose center of population is Oak Harbor, described Sundberg by saying, “To talk with Trudy about Democrats and what is good for our great country is a joy, for her undying optimism and determination won’t let the hardships of life show through.”

Dave Anderson, a Clinton resident and a Democrat who did win election in the 10th District, describes Sundberg as “the consistent organizing force behind the Democrat Party in Island County as long as I’ve been involved. It takes courage to be an outspoken Democrat in a town like Oak Harbor, but Trudy has a way of standing up for her convictions while still maintaining a wide variety of friends.”

Another friend of Sundberg’s, Delia Pierce, describes her as “the matriarch of the Democratic Party in Island County,” and lauds her organizational efforts through the years, from forming the Whidbey Island Democratic Club to finding candidates and guiding their campaigns, while somehow making time to lead the award-winning “Save our Kids Crusade” and other community improvement efforts in Oak Harbor.

The most successful elected Democrat in the 10th District is long-time State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, who says Sundberg is “an extraordinary woman . . . she has brought the Democratic Party on Whidbey Island from a non-presence to a viable, active group. Her leadership has given Democrats credibility in Island County.”

Sundberg admits that being a Democrat in the military-dominated town of Oak Harbor hasn’t always been easy and she credits her husband John, a retired Navy Captain, with always supporting her efforts.

Oddly, perhaps, Sundberg was raised in the Midwest in a poor family that favored Republicans. “I don’t know why,” she laughed. “Maybe they thought they were going to be rich one of these days.” But as a young woman she was impressed by President Harry S Truman, whom she admired for his simple roots, knowledge of history, personal courage, and sense of right and wrong. Since then, she never strayed from her belief in the Democratic Party.

The Sundbergs landed in Oak Harbor in the early ‘60s. While John worked a the base, Trudy taught school as they raised their four children. Despite their busy personal lives, she always found time for politics.

“My Lifetime Award goes back to 1968, so I’m not just a fresh face,” Sundberg said. That was a big year for her, as she was the driving force behind opening a Island County Democratic Party headquarters on Pioneer Way, an event which drew party leaders from across the state. Around that time she also started the Democratic Women’s Club, which evolved into the islandwide Whidbey Island Democratic Club.

Sundberg keeps a fat scrapbook filled with press clippings and thank you notes sent from various politicians, including Warren G. Magnuson who served 37 years in the U.S. Senate. For years, “Maggie” and Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson were Washington’s Democratic powerhouses in the nation’s capital. Sundberg still speaks admiringly of the dams, roads and military installations they got built in their home state. “People in Congress like them,” she said, explaining their success. “There wasn’t so much animosity them.”

Besides teaching school, Sundberg wrote occasional feature and news articles for the Whidbey News-Times, and even wrote former publisher Wallie Funk’s famous “Whidbey Fish Wrapper” column from time to time when he was away on vacation.

This election year, Sundberg hasn’t been quite as active as in the past as she has been taking care of her husband, who is fighting cancer. But she watches with great interest, although the Republican Convention speeches irked her. “Those speeches really hurt,” she said, “especially that crazy guy (Sen. Zell Miller) from Georgia.”

She expressed enthusiasm for this year’s contingent of local Democratic candidates. “Rick Larsen is one of my all-time favorite Democrats,” she said of the incumbent Second District Congressman.

Her advice to all political candidates: “Stand up and say it! Take a stand on something!”

Despite her interest in current events, Sundberg keeps returing to her scrapbook, where her most treasured political memories are kept. She keeps a framed picture of Magnuson on her hallway wall, and she is most proud of a comment he wrote to her in 1968. “Your fine efforts on my behalf in Island County were of considerable significance to the outcome of this election, and I am most appreciative of your outstanding work,” wrote the legendary Democrat.

Maggie’s words no doubt sum it up for all Democrats whose names have been on the ballot in Island County over the past four decades.