Published: November 04, 2009 03:50 pm      

After the vote — Time for region, nation to move forward

Voters in the Commonwealth of Virginia have spoken in the state’s closely watched election.

Several new candidates were elected Tuesday, notably freshmen Delegate Will Morefield, R-Tazewell, and other incumbents were returned to office, including Delegate Anne B. Crockett-Stark, R-Wythe.

Two new members were also elected to the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors.

The addition of James T. “Jim” Campbell Jr. and John Absher changes the make-up of the Tazewell board to four Republicans and one Democrat. Campbell and Absher will be joined by incumbent Republicans David Anderson and Seth White, and Democrat Mike Hymes, who was successful in his re-election bid Tuesday.

This new board configuration is interesting because one of the first priorities facing Campbell, Absher, White, Anderson and Hymes will be the long-delayed vote on the proposed mountain ridge protection ordinance — a decision that could directly impact a large-scale wind turbine farm proposed for East River Mountain near Bluefield, Va.

Beyond far Southwest Virginia, voters also gave their nod of approval Tuesday to Republican Bob McDonnell, a conservative and former state attorney general, in the closely watched gubernatorial race. Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling also cruised to an easy re-election victory.

The voters have spoken. Now, it is time for Virginia to move forward.

Regardless of individual political affiliation, we must all now be willing to work together for the betterment and good of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The midterm congressional elections will not arrive until next year, so West Virginia voters will have to wait another year before having a say on a multitude of issues.

For now, the political season is over. And it’s time to heal any partisan wounds. It’s time to come together as a single Commonwealth, a single Mountain State and a single nation.

It’s time to put our political differences aside, and to begin working together for the betterment of our region, and our nation.

There is much work to be done. The recession may be over, but the long road to economic recovery continues. We can still expect many bumps along the road. But there is no obstacle that we can’t overcome when we are united.

By working together, we are stronger. By working together, we can make a difference. By working together, we can ensure a brighter future for our generation, and those to come.