Despite the bickering, phone calls from upset constituents, and the constant battle with accurate reporting by one of our media sources, I would not trade my experience in municipal government for anything. An old friend once told me when I was new on the council, "Don't let the bastards get you down" and those words reverberate in my head quite often.

The days I've spent chaperoning the youth academy and teaching them about city and county government give me a renewed, positive perspective. How could you not after spending the day with these crazy kids!