By HDN Editorial Board
Havre has once again survived a city election. Every four years our city is divided along party lines, and this year was no exception. It's over with the exception of the tie in Ward 2 and now is the time to put the election behind us and come together again.
Both candidates for mayor Bob Rice and Mike Shortell should be proud of the support they received from their parties and volunteers and from the people who voted for them. Candidates' signs added color to our city. Havre residents should be commended for the good turnout at the polls.
We would like to congratulate Mayor-elect Bob Rice. He ran an excellent campaign, with door-to-door visits throughout the city. He reached out to the people of Havre with his innovative campaigning and his usual tireless energy, and he now has a solid grasp of the issues that Havre residents want addressed. Rice, a Republican, won with support from both Republicans and Democrats, demonstrating that his message and his commitment have popular appeal.
He stressed the importance of economic development if we want to ensure a good future for our city. He also has never claimed to have all the answers and he knows the mayor and Havre City Council can't do it alone. He is open to the suggestions of all.
We encourage the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce,
Bear Paw Development Corp., the Hill County Commission and state officials to work closely with our new mayor to help create jobs and opportunities for growth. Now is the time for us to reunite for that purpose.
