The results of this year’s election have been announced and we now know who has been charged with leading our communities, state and nation.

Regardless of whether the winners are incumbents or newly elected officials, the next days and weeks are more pivotal than the days leading up to Election Day.

It is now that the real work begins for those who were elected in order to move our county, state and nation forward.

While we do not see as steep a divide at the local level, it is essential that those leading our nation in Washington, D.C., put aside their differences and truly work for the betterment of our country.

We all need to remember, however, that we will ultimately be at our best when all parties involved are moving in the same direction. This is especially true for our government at the local, state and national levels.

Is that to say everyone will always agree? Absolutely not.

It is more important than ever to work to find common ground that benefits everyone.

Those leading our country need to remember that the decisions made today not only affect this generation, but future generations also.

These are the things that make the United States of America great, and the ability to recapture that greatness will take hard work and functioning together.