Editorial: Start the new year by working together

REORGANIZATION MEETINGS RECENTLY took place in numerous municipalities, and with the second week of the new year under way we are calling for calm and cooperation. Too often, that has not been the case, and discord has been the rule.
Occasional dust-ups are expected in any municipality, but chaos should never be standard operating procedure and personality conflicts involving elected officials should never affect the manner in which government serves citizens.
Elected officials should consider themselves public servants first and politicians last. It is inevitable that candidates seeking public office will clash — sometimes with nasty intent — as they try to generate support. However, the mudslinging should end once the final votes are tallied.
Continuing to snipe away from the gallery serves no purpose. Elected officials on councils and boards of commissioners must set aside petty disagreements and commit all their energy to serving the entire electorate and making decisions in the best interest of the citizens and the municipalities they serve.

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