Clinch Valley News

For the second time in as many terms, the voters of Tazewell have called for an almost complete change in councilmen.

Tuesday's election saw only one of the old councilmen retain his seat.

Managing and directing town affairs to the satisfaction of even the majority of voters is not easy—witness the last two elections. Yet, that is essentially the job of a town council. They must, to carry their real responsibility, both manage the affairs which affect the living, and also prepare, insofar as possible, for the future.

Living from day to day, selfishly ignoring any provision for those who are yet young, maintaining the status quo simply because it is comfortable, is not necessarily good town management. Neither is the formulation of great plans for the future to the exclusion of wise day-to-day management.

So each—present and future—must be given consideration. Sometimes one must suffer a little for the other. Sometimes the future must take a back seat to the present, and sometimes it's the other way. The wisdom of government lies in attending to both.

This newspaper offers its best wishes to the new town government which will take office in September. We feel sure that the new councilmen have a sincere desire to see Tazewell grow, to prosper, and to become a town of opportunity, where each who so desires can live peaceably and adequately, use his talents profitably in service to others and leave a heritage of greater opportunity to those who will follow. To that end we offer our heartiest support.