Congratulations to the newly installed local officials.

If you're a newbie, then expect the following three-year scenario: learning the ropes on your first year; being comfortable with the job on your second year; and parrying off attacks by enemies you've made on your third and final year.

For a good local government executive, three years is defnitely too short; for a bad one, three years is much too long.

May you survive (literally and figuratively) the challenges and demands of your new jobs.

And remember always: you've been elected as public servants, so don't start acting like kings and queens.

[June 30, 2007]