Decades of work as a journalist helped me appreciate that local government keeps life running smoothly for people in ways that can be so invisible they are taken for granted. We assume roadways will be clear by the time we go to work, the toilet will flush, clear water will run when we turn on the faucet, and there will be schools where our children can learn and grow. We assume there will be money available when the unexpected happens, and that when things don’t go the way we want, there will be someone we can complain to.

But especially locally, the people we complain to and about are, in truth, us. There is no THEY, only the relay that is democracy, where the baton is passed and hopefully people of good will grab it to carry on the hard work. I believe we are stronger and more effective when united as a caring community, which means being fiscally and managerially strong. It’s crucial to have a functioning local government, whose leaders are realistic, thoughtful, and able to look long term —and who can work together to get things done.