To the editor:

Congratulations to John Proos, my opponent for state Senate in the 21st District.

I wish him well.

I also congratulate Al Pscholka, who won the 79th House seat over Mary Brown.

Mary even joined him in celebrating at the Berrien Hills Country Club on election night while we Democrats gathered in a somewhat less celebratory mood at our headquarters in downtown Benton Harbor.

I don’t know if Machiavellian politics is on the curriculum at the school where Mary works in Benton Harbor, but I question the example she is setting for her students.

I especially congratulate Don Cooney, who ran against Upton, and Cindy Ellis in the 78th District, who both ran superb campaigns and set an example for all of us.

Don focused on the issues that matter most, like unnecessary wars, education and an economy that works for everyone.

As for Fred, he can now relax again for another two years.

I thank everyone who voted for me in Cass, Van Buren and Berrien counties and who worked tirelessly for a better government and a better community.

My hope now is that voters will hold our newly elected officials accountable, as they have President Obama.

If Upton, Proos and Pscholka succeed in their promise to work toward dismantling health care, eliminating the minimum wage and making the rest of us pay for tax breaks for the most privileged, two years from now may be a very different story.

Al Pscholka might even be joining us in Benton Harbor to celebrate over hot dogs and beer.

Scott Elliott

Benton Harbor