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Yesterday was Election Day, and to be honest, as we type this editorial, we have no idea who won Tuesday’s elections. That’s the fun in finishing part of a newspaper before polls close, and then anticipating a late night.

But regardless of how the results turn out, we want to thank all of the candidates who put themselves in the limelight and decided to run for elected office. Specifically, we thank our local candidates.

It’s not easy to run for public office. Any time someone signs up to be the mayor, a council representative or a commissioner, they suddenly are supposed to have all of the answers to our local problems. Of course, that’s not how the world works, but unfortunately, it’s how the general public perceives it.

Through forums and public speaking engagements, candidates have a chance to differentiate themselves from the pack, but that’s not easy to do. It’s hard to know about everything impacting the local area, but candidates may be asked about any topic and be expected to have an answer.

It’s just not that easy. Most people would rather sit on the sidelines and complain than actually jump into office and handle the responsibility that entails. 

To the winners of Tuesday night’s election, we thank you for all of your time campaigning, but now is the time to roll up your sleeves and get to work.  To the candidates who came up short, we encourage you to keep your head up and to find other ways to get involved. Sometimes the most productive citizens don’t actually hold a public office.

And to everyone who voted, thank you for having your voice heard and for playing a part in deciding the future of our state and our local community.