A recent guest editorial on practicing civility and respect in the upcoming election and an article on retiring state Rep. Dean Ardal inspired me to write a comment.
I had the honor and privilege of working with Congressman Urdahl for eight years. Throughout his decades in the Legislature, he exemplified working in a bipartisan manner. He walked the talk. He was the epitome of working together, respecting each other, listening to others’ opinions, being open-minded, researching before making decisions, and compromising when necessary to get the best solution. He never said, “I’m right and you’re wrong!” That’s what made Congressman Urdahl one of the most respected and admired members of the Legislature. When he said he would vote according to his conscience, his constituents, and his caucus (party), he did! To me, that seems like the way an elected official should behave. He always demonstrated respect and civility, just as the guest editorial suggested we all do in the next election.
So does that mean we shouldn’t belong to the Republican or Democrat or any other political party? Not at all. In my opinion, we need to be true to ourselves, our beliefs, our values and principles. But we also need to be polite, respectful, and positive, and respectful of the feelings of others. We’ll all be happier if we can agree to disagree, try to find solutions that are positive for as many people as possible, and walk away respectful and grateful for each other.
It is imperative that we all prepare well for the next election and support candidates who embody Rep. Dean Ardal, so our democracy may survive!
John Ward
Brainerd School Board Member
Baxter
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