For the second time in the past four months, the ballots have been punched, the votes have been counted and the results are in. Now maybe we can forget about “Ds,” “Rs,” independents and all the other labels that seem to impede our ability to move forward as a country.

Did the candidates you pulled for come out victorious? If so, that is great. If not, that’s OK too.

The bottom line is the men and women elected in Tuesday’s general election came through the democratic system our country was founded on and will now represent us at the local, state and national levels.

Most importantly, they have to represent all of us.

The whole idea of being exclusively able to relate to one political party or another should be tossed to the wayside now — by elected representatives and citizens alike. The goal should be to find common ground and make decisions that are in the best interest of and reflects the values of all constituents.

This holds true from the smallest of Michigan townships to our school boards to the statehouse and all the way to Washington, D.C.

Of course, that’s where significant challenges lay ahead and even optimists like me have to realize the bickering is unlikely to change any time soon. But we can still hope.

The Republicans appear to have gained full control of both the House and the Senate for the first time since 2006. Having a unified Congress could pave the way for the first significant progress on key issues in several years, but the reality is there will likely be an impasse with the White House. Who knows? Maybe compromise will come through.

But the challenges aren’t relegated to thousands of miles away.

Right here in southwest Michigan many newly elected officials will face significant challenges ranging from looming school bond issues in Niles to being a new voice for Cass County in Lansing to resolving the sewer plant controversy in Ontwa Township that led to four recalls.

Although not quite as heated locally, this election season — much like the past couple years leading up to it — has been marred by partisanship and grandstanding on both sides of the aisle. That has to stop now.

Let’s put those black marks behind us, come together as individual communities, as one state and as a unified nation striving together and working hard for a brighter future.

 

Michael Caldwell is the publisher of Leader Publications LLC. He can be reached at (269) 687-7700 or by email at mike.caldwell@leaderpub.com.