All parties have an interest in its preservation. In that interest 20-60 people will turn out Saturday morning to pick up litter and debris and to restore the lake's shores to a more pristine state. It's proof that with a good cause and some outside encouragement, political and territorial differences can be set aside for the common good. A couple of years ago, I wrote a column outlining six traits of good leadership. In this political season where people are announcing their candidacy for public office, the question of leadership is of paramount importance.
Leadership is more than being elected for public office.
I've seen leaders who will never hold public office. It's not the title that counts, it the ability to be effective. The truth of public office is that it magnifies one's character flaws. The demands of public office often bring out the extremes in people, exaggerating either their virtues or their vices. In some instances, the same individual is polarized on both extremes, showing both good and bad traits at the same time.