Some people thought it was inevitable that this year’s Natchez mayoral election would divide our community, along political or racial lines, and judging by the turnout and results of Tuesday night’s race, perhaps that was partly true on election day.

But today we have great work to do, and divisions serve no one in our community.

In two weeks our city officials &045;&045; including a new mayor and a new alderman &045;&045; will be sworn into office and will undertake an overwhelming list of tasks.

New Mayor Phillip West will need all of us &045;&045; black and white, Republican and Democrat, men and women, business owners and workers &045;&045; to help out.

We have a struggling economy to revive.

We have projects to be completed, such as the federal courthouse being refurbished on Pearl Street.

We have new ideas surfacing every day that can help boost our tourism industry.

We have practical matters such as water rates and drainage problems to attend to.

It would be foolish to think all of our hopes for a brighter future could be accomplished by one person, or even just the mayor and board of aldermen.

But good leaders with a united community behind them can accomplish great things. Being united as a community doesn’t always mean you agree with the leadership. If you don’t agree with how something is done, don’t just complain to your neighbor &045;&045; take it to the mayor and board and offer a solution.

Today it doesn’t matter for whom each of us voted; it matters how we help the person who won.

It matters that we pledge to hold that person accountable, and that we all continue to work for a better, stronger Natchez.