The Observer Newspapers | Time to Find Common Ground

April 17, 2008

Time to Find Common Ground

To the editor:

Another town election is over and we would like to thank all the candidates who ran for office and to congratulate all those candidates who succeeded in their election bids. It is our hope that all the winning candidates will dedicate themselves to forging new relationships with each other, as well as with all of their constituents, in order to move the town forward in a positive and productive manner.

We recognize that in the recent few years, some neighbors and friends have aligned themselves on separate sides of the day labor and immigration issues, causing difficult times, bad press and sometimes a weakened sense of community. We also recognize that this is only one issue, albeit a very difficult one. It is not so much that we disagree on the illegality of illegal immigration, as we disagree on how we, as a town, should approach the issue, trying to determine the best way to deal with it, without causing undue negative effects on our town and its people.

Herndon has always been a great town, due to the works of many generations of neighbors working together on common causes. We recognize that we actually agree on a lot more matters than we disagree on, matters that are of great importance to the town. We both want a beautifully new re-developed downtown that will be vital and attractive. We both want good public safety. We both want reasonable town services while keeping our tax levels low. We both love having all the nice amenities and town functions that make our town a wonderful place in which to live and to raise families.

We hope that this new election will mark a new start of neighbors finding commonalities with each other and of working together in a spirited, respectful and inclusive way. Herndon is more than just 4.2 square miles of land. It is the people who live in it.

Barbara Glakas and Aubrey Stokes

Herndon