June 12, 2012 — Sometimes the best thing a community can do is move forward.

With the results of the June 5 primary election firming up, it’s time for our elected officials and their supporters to bury the hatchet and get back to doing the people’s business.

The people have spoken, and it’s time for their voices to be heard.

Lassen County District 3 Supervisor Larry Wosick’s vision to take over county government through the defeat of District 1 Supervisor Bob Pyle and 2 Supervisor Jim Chapman failed to resonate with the voters. Wosick also supported, and endorsed Tom Spanton in the District 4 race, but he came in a distant third.

A second attempt to recall District 5 Supervisor Jack Hanson — another of Wosick’s predictions — also recently failed. Bitter and hard pills to swallow, no doubt.

It’s easy to appreciate Wosick’s passion and dedication to his vision of the county’s future and to support his efforts to fight for those things in which he believes.

In his column in this week’s paper, Wosick wrote he recognizes his vision for Lassen County lost in last week’s election, so hopefully this political battle has been decided and we can put it behind us.

He also wrote he learned how to accept a loss during his years as a professional motocross rider.

We wholeheartedly commend Wosick for the courage, character and just plain guts to gracefully accept and publicly acknowledge this loss.

Wosick’s reaction to the election results is an example from which we all can learn and follow when things don’t work out as we planned.

To put it plainly, in some circles they call this class.

The race for Lassen County Superior Court judge heated up at the end, and Lassen County District Attorney Robert Burns and Lassen County Office of Family Law Facilitator Jon Nakanishi will square off against each other in the November presidential election.

The Susanville City Council election offered some interesting surprises as incumbents Joseph Franco and Doug Sayers lost their seats. Brian Wilson, incumbent Lino Callegari and Nicholas McBride were elected and are expected to take their seats on the council June 19.

Congratulations also are in order for District 4 Supervisor Brian Dahle for his strong showing in the First Assembly District race. Our own homegrown representative garnered nearly 60 percent of the Lassen County vote and was the top vote getter across the district.

Dahle will face Rick Bosetti in the November general election.

He could be the first Lassen County representative within memory to serve in the state assembly. (Chapman said a couple of locals served in the assembly in the 1800s. He also said Susanville resident Stan Arnold served in the state senate from 1955 to 1965.

One of the courtrooms in the new courthouse is named in his honor.)

And our current state senator, Ted Gaines, proved his popularity, taking more than 48 percent of the votes in his race.

Thank you to all the candidates and the voters who make our great democratic system work. Our county and our state wouldn’t be the same without you and your contribution.