(The following post was written by Lynda V. Mapes)

Longtime gun rights advocate Alan Gottlieb has thrown his support to Susan Hutchison for King County Executive.

The founder of the Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation, a national gun rights group, said he was with Hutchison at a political gathering last week and found her "a breath of fresh air."

He stressed the endorsement is a personal one, not an endorsement from the foundation. He said he sent out thousands of e-mails from his mailing lists to urge donations to her campaign.

He said gun rights aren't in county control. But he nonetheless feels "my gun rights are in good hands" with Hutchison. Gottlieb said he first got to know Hutchison when she worked at KIRO, and that he appreciates her support for personal liberty.

In his e-mail appeal, Gottlieb told voters they have a chance to change the direction not just for the county, but the state.

"This election is a game-changer for politics in Washington State...Dow Constantine is the type of Seattle liberal who has dominated the recent political scene. But if Susan can defeat him in November, it will open doors for numerous candidates in 2010 and in 2013 who will change the direction our state is headed."