ANOTHER SILLY SEASON—

That was the phrase my late political colleague Paul Whizzer White used to describe these annual digressions from sanity.

We are done, albeit temporarily, with being hurricaned by political advertising. The quaint, visual pollution of countless yard signs will soon disappear as well.

Some already have.

Before the polls closed I was chauffeuring incumbent friend Fritz Ackerman around the township gathering his hand-made signs promoting his reelection as one of our trustees.

He’s the kind of down-to-earth fellow who would prefer they not be there in the first place.

And, he won, handily—soon to commence his 29th consecutive year in office.

My friend John Scheurer did not do as well in his first attempt at public office—a seat on the Madison Board of Education. But, we will be better served as a community if he does succeed one day.

Like Fritz, John is a quiet, intelligent guy who has a lot to offer in public service. Voters out there will be doing themselves a favor when they recognize that.

And my favorite mayor lost. Long-time Bellville village mayor Carolynn Studenmund was defeated after 22 years of service. I don’t know why, but, when the dust settles she and the town will realize we all are better off because she was there. Thanks Mayor!

The voters in Mansfield finally approved an operating levy for the city schools. They and the state recently built a castle of a high-school up there while the system has been flirting with academic failure for years and discipline in the hallways nearly requires the presence of the national guard. I wish them luck.

Now, unfortunately, the country’s sanity will suffer an accelerating assault by the national political circus of the 2008 campaign--which seemed to start several years ago.

Heaven help us.