And now the hard work begins.
After roughly two years of debate, opposition and rancor in the public forum, the time has come for all people of influence to find even the tiniest bit of common ground on which to pull each other together and make progress toward goals for this community.
Did two municipal leaders on opposite sides of an intermunicipal contractual issue support a similar candidate? Yes. Then they have a crumb to begin with.
Are there two hard-working groups of business leaders who have a desire to tell the world about this beautiful place we all call home? Yes. Then they have an idea that just needs a few more sparks.
We have some major challenges ahead that will require more teamwork than many of us have imagined in our lifetimes. Potential for threats to our clean water, costly damage to our country roads and the potential for permanent changes to our land and vistas are just a few.
Young and old, sodbuster and sailer, blue collar, white collar, rich and poor, we all have a stake in our future. We all have a right to share our ideas about how that future looks and feels for everyone.
It’s time to treat the side affects from what a very wise man once called a deadly case of “mine-itis.”
It’s time to offer forgiveness for perceived past wrongs, negotiate away from the edges, and lift, pull and elevate each other toward a future we can all support.
Democracy is not a spectator sport. It’s a hands-on effort that is better for the contributions from a diverse, well-informed public that is not swayed by special interests.
We got into this together, which is how we need to get out of it.
