Now that the election is over, I have that fleeting wishful thought that we could all get along and just be nice to each other for a little while. I am not optimistic; only hopeful.

The negativity in the recent months with hateful words, blame and accusations thrown out from both established political parties has been beyond discouraging to say the least. Now that the voters have spoken, whether it be in favor of your party or candidate, let’s try to move on and do some positive things locally, statewide and nationally.

Again, I say this wishfully as the first thing I read the morning after the election was the losing candidate in the County Commission race saying how “clean water and common sense went right out the window.” A sad statement indeed by a candidate who in another statement prided herself on her “clean campaign.”

Who knows what decisions will be made? I admit I don’t know much about the winning Commission candidate, but I do know that there has to be a majority vote of three or more on that board for things to happen. I don’t think our county is in such dire straits as projected with Mr. Bell’s victory.

Many of the results surprised me; however, as was shown nationwide, the voters are not happy with the current party and are giving the other side a shot. Who knows what they will do with it? Hopefully they will do the will of the people; the majority of the people. Of course, that will is never going to be the will of all of the people.

Comments made about a young candidate, only 18, who has won by a huge margin were also sad, to me. Rather than beat down someone by saying “She has no experience,” encourage her because she cares enough to get involved. She may well surprise us all. I wish there were more 18-year-olds who even knew what an election was. They are the future of this country and it’s a scary thought sometimes!

Regardless, negative attacks and statements of doom and gloom help no one. At least we hopefully won’t see those nasty postcards shoved into our mailboxes and we can return to watching television without biting campaign commercials running every 30 seconds. Those things turned this voter completely against some candidates and I’m sure I don’t stand alone in that regard.

Of course, it is only two years until we have to do it again-an even larger candidate base and even larger stakes with a presidential election. I guess we can look forward to that negativity returning by, say, Christmas at the latest.