Much can be told from how one handles loss in an election.
The same is true in victory.
Gov. Sean Parnell has conceded to Bill Walker, who challenged him for the governor’s office in the Nov. 4 election.
Parnell graciously conceded as soon as it became apparent Friday that uncounted ballots wouldn’t result in him overcoming Walker’s narrow lead.
Walker himself called Parnell’s concession gracious, and the two Alaskan leaders met Saturday to discuss a smooth and cooperative transition.
For his part as the victor, Walker also refrained Friday from claiming victory. He awaited Parnell’s announcement.
Clearly, this is the way it should be done. While the two politicians disagree somewhat on the direction for Alaska over the next four years and beyond, they both remain Alaskans and likely will encounter each other again.
As a politician and Alaskan, Parnell has sought seats of public service. It doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility that he will do so again. Once, he aspired to be a congressman.
Also, after the counting of absentee and questioned ballots on Friday, Republican Chere Klein called House District 36’s apparent winner, independent Dan Ortiz, not delaying the process any more than the already 10 days since election day.
Then by Monday, Sen. Mark Begich, a Democrat, promised the Republican winner Dan Sullivan a smooth transition into Alaska’s junior senator seat in Washington, D.C.
With Klein and Begich’s political abilities, it’s likely we’ll see one or both of them in politics again.
But, in the meantime, the transitions are under way, with all parties on the tickets accepting the voters’ choices and moving forward.
As voters, it’s satisfying to see when it’s being accomplished with grace.
— Ketchikan Daily News,
Nov. 19