It was the most dangerous and daring race politician Mike Chapman ever ran.  And the most potentially explosive — literally.

Talk about tackling tough problems…

Explanation: state Rep. Democrat Chapman, a Port Angelian who’s running for his first term in the state Senate after eight years in the state House, almost perished when he was almost run over by a logging truck in downtown Port Angeles on Dec. 31,1999. 

Why? Chapman was chasing the notorious Millennium Bomber. A Canadian immigrant from Montreal was headed down to L.A. on the Victoria ferry to blow up LAX — with a trunk full of explosives that could have caused a blast equivalent to 40 car bombs. 

I’ve always been intrigued by this story. 

Chapman, a U.S. customs officer (and Rick Steves lookalike) who’d been a cop over in Mill Creek, was questioning the Algerian native as his explosive-filled trunk was opened. “He looked nervous,” Chapman recalled. Suddenly, the guy bolted, right onto the main street of P.A.,with Chapman in hot pursuit. “He tried to carjack a car, but I tackled him and got him on the ground.” 

But then, yikes, here came a log truck, barreling down on the grounded pair. “I was bigger than him, and I kept yelling, ’Stay down!” recalls Chapman. “I was shielding him with my body. Service above self,” he smiles. “The log truck stopped.” Whew. 

Chapman cuffed the guy, Algerian native Ahmed Ressam. Chapman then spent weeks sequestered in an L.A. hotel while testifying in court. Ressam got 37 years. 

Even scathing campaign debates must seem pretty mild by comparison. 

Chapman, a pleasant, easygoing sort, has also shown political courage. Then a Republican county commissioner, he was ejected from the county GOP after serving two terms — because he endorsed a Democrat, Steve Tharinger, for the state House. (He got a certified letter, not a bomb, from the GOP). Chapman is expected to beat Marcia Kelbon to fill the state Senate seat of Kevin Van de Wege, who just retired.  

He likes dropping into the busy Democratic HQ, where we chatted at length recently. “Jefferson is a rarity — a  rural Democratic county,” he explained, adding he had a special place in his heart for the county.” He predicts big local favorite Kamala Harris will be elected President next month. 

Politics can be risky —  and explosive, too, he says. “With all the criticism they get, it’s amazing incumbents ever win,” he said. But those bombs, at least, are only verbal. 

— Now that phone books have all but disappeared, there are few things more sleep-inducing than our just-arrived Voter Pamphlet. But these booklets, which may be sitting unread in your house, do usually contain a few chuckles. GOP V.P. wannabe J.D. Vance, the Vanilli Hillbilly, under Community Service, notes “No information submitted.” 

Libertarian Prez nominee Chase Oliver says, “For my entire life as a millennial…(and before that ?) …Tony Roberts, a GOP State Rep candidate, says he was a radio talk host, which reminds me of the old broadcast-industry line that if you’re ever feeling good about the human race, just turn on a radio talk show.

— One candidate, obviously looking to avoid a dog fight, lists Boxer Rescue as one of his volunteer jobs…

— Sign (stealing) of the times: There’s a long list down at Democratic headquarters of Harris supporters who’ve had their yard signs knocked down or stolen. There were about 100 signs on the list last time I looked. Only 5,000 to go, frustrated Trumpists.

— I liked former New Jersey governor and former Trump debate coach Chris Christie’s take on Cadet Bonespurs in the New York Times: 

“No one’s life is more important to him than his. It’s really that simple. I mean, it’s not that he doesn’t get it. He does get it, but he makes a value judgment that in the grand context of things, his life and his circumstance are the most important things in the world.” Sounds right. 

— I’m puzzled. Why isn’t walking away with pieces of those Coupeville ferry jigsaw puzzles not a misdemeanor? 

— Hard-to-believe Dept: A half century ago today in Montreal, I became a father. And I highly recommend it. Joyeux Anniversaire, Floyd! 

— A final political item, this fashionable query: I wonder if GOP state representative candidate Travis Couture’s nickname isn’t “Haute.” 

Alleged PT humorist Bill Mann is also known as Newsmann9@gmail.com