Today, We Have A New President ...

Maylon T. Rice
Maylon T. Rice

This is being written more than 72 hours before the final curtain on the General Elections fell Tuesday night -- and maybe very late on Tuesday night, I predict.

No one at this juncture knows the exacting final results, and as you read this Wednesday morning Nov. 9 and beyond, some of the political races may still be in doubt. But let us hope not.

One thing is for sure: The often raucous, mean-spirited, rumor-filled onslaught in the media for the Nov. 8 General Election is over.

The wild campaign spending spree is done.

The millions of mass computer generated emails encouraging us to turn out to vote are done.

And the untold flood of mean-spirited Facebook posts, for the most part, is over.

Thank goodness.

As the headline says: Today we have a new President.

And with the new President and Vice President, perhaps there is a changed U.S. Senate or a changed majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

But then again, maybe not.

Some things may not have changed as we embark upon that transition of power from one president to the next office holder of the Oval Office in Washington D.C.

There are no new state Constitutional officers in Little Rock, but the outcome of the general election last night may prove to change those in power in due time.

We have all had the liberty to cast our ballots for the candidates offered up in the Nov. 8 General Election. If you did not exercise your right to vote -- well you can always do so - in the next election -- four years hence.

But, I say shame on you. Those who did not get to the polls to help decide the fate of our nation and select the leaders of our country need to really check their sense of national pride in being an American.

There will be a new face for the office of County Judge in Washington County. The race was one perplexing campaign.

The Democrats had a primary race focused on the abilities of the two men asking for the mantle of the political party for the November election. The GOP had a nominee quit, asked to be replaced and in a closed Party selection process three men ran with a compromise candidate taking on the general election challenge.

Seldom did the two appear on stage in public forums to show us the difference in these two men.

One apparently ran on the party mantle offering little in the way of ideas or identity with the local citizenry.

The other candidate made all the expected moves, forums, pancake breakfasts and hand shaking often associated with the retail politics for a county office.

Both men spent a goodly sum in running for the office.

There are some new people going down to the Legislature from the region. And there will be, without a doubt, some of those seeking re-election also victorious.

We know locally some strong challenges were made to sitting county officials. We don't think there was cause for change, but vote totals may surprise even the most tenured incumbent.

The County Quorum Courts will have some new members, not enough to upset the GOP margin of control. But new faces can and will make a difference.

The state House will still hold a GOP edge.

And so will the Arkansas state Senate.

Today is not just a day for taking down signs, packing up temporary campaign offices and clearing the rights of way of Election Day signs.

The work begins today office holders, both new and old, to begin another term for ALL Arkansans, not just those who cast a ballot in their favor on Nov. 8.

There is hopefully a peace in the air as we start the transition of power nationally, in the state and here at home as well.

MAYLON RICE, AN AWARD-WINNING COLUMNIST, HAS WRITTEN BOTH NEWS AND COLUMNS FOR SEVERAL NWA PUBLICATIONS AND HAS BEEN WRITING FOR THE ENTERPRISE-LEADER FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR.

Editorial on 11/09/2016