By the end of night, we should know who will lead our community, our state and our nation for the next couple of years at least.

Regardless of the outcome of today’s general election, the coming days need to be a time of healing and mending of the proverbial fences as we all shift our focus to the future.

This is never more important anywhere than it is in Washington, D.C., where bitter partisanship and political games have divided the nation and stifled growth for several years.

Things are not nearly as divided at the state and local levels, but the need for progress and compromise are just as important.

Government — regardless of how large or small it is — functions best when all sides come together to create a unified vision that provides a blueprint toward a shared goal.

That doesn’t mean everyone will agree all the time and there will always be ideological differences. The key is finding a way to seek some middle ground.

Sometimes, in today’s world of high stakes politics where far too many people view it as a career rather than public service, that seems to be lost.

But it isn’t too late to recapture this spirit that has helped make our melting pot the greatest nation in the world.

It’s never too late. But the time must start today.