The Northfield League of Women Voters did it’s usual outstanding job of organizing the voter forum on Saturday, October 2. The Northfield public, despite a freezing wind, did its usual job of turning out for a look at the candidates. I was struck by how much potential for collaboration there is in this city, and how eager we all are to keep Northfield a special place.
In my life as a mom, teacher, curriculum leader and now as a state project specialist, I have constantly been reminded that the most important thing about moving our society forward is to find common ground and to bring people together. In the last Minnesota legislative session I witnessed firsthand the results when common ground and consensus was NOT achieved. I worry a lot about a polirized electorate, one in which we cannot or will not find ways to work together. I decided to run for the Northfield School Board partly because at the school board level you are expected to work for consensus and can expect that from others. School boards are non-partisan. We need to all work hard to bring people to the center and to find a way forward.
