I want to give a big kudos to the newsroom staff for its election coverage. It's always exciting to hang out on Election Night in a newsroom and watch the results trickle in.

This seems to be a pretty predictable election. But it always taxes us to the limit and we always push the deadline.

Looks like voters pretty much split in the same two races that the Idaho Press-Tribune did. Given their qualifications, we said in our endorsements that it was hard to choose one candidate over the other in Caldwell's Dakan/Sanchez race and Nampa's Thorne/Henry race.

In the end, the incumbents held onto their seats in all council races. Here are the latest results.

Some takeaways from this election:

• The Nampa City Council made up of just four members is too small. A city this large needs more representation. It's much easier to control the outcomes with just four members, but is it right? The Idaho Press-Tribune has pushed for this in the past as well.
• Bradley Blamire's quest to make doing business easier. For instance, with the economy like it is, should Nampa force business owners to take down banners they are using to promote their products? Or his suggestion that the city hire local businesses instead of those based out of state.
• Jim Dorsey's idea for a Nampa First Advisory Council.
• Melissa Sue Robinson's suggestion to get Nampa government meetings on free cable. Yes, it will cost a bit to get it set up, but the payoff would be good in the end.
• Communication between the city of Caldwell and downtown businesses must improve. It, too, should get meetings on free cable.
• For now, urban renewal projects are safe in both cities, but don't think the opponents will give up. I expect to see some legislation that will change or restrict how that increment tax program works in the future.
• With the jail bond failure, the county must decide what to do next. Let's all hold our collective breath that Canyon County doesn't release someone from jail because it didn't have the space, and then have that person go out and kill or hurt someone.
• It's time to set aside differences and move forward as suggested in today's editorial.

One final note:

I need to apologize to the letter writer Tim and Julie Dranginis and to candidate Jim Dorsey. Mr. and Mrs. Dranginis submitted a letter in support of Jim Dorsey. I wrote Sunday that we try our best to get every letter in the paper. I'm not sure why that one slipped through the cracks. But I'm including it in this post, recognizing, however, that it's too late.

Jim Dorsey has employed our children at Squeezers on 12th Avenue since it opened. He has been always been very considerate in working with their busy school and athletic schedules. We have 4 children who are very involved with school and sports. My oldest son was able to come back from college and work during his breaks. My daughters graduated from Skyview and are now both playing volleyball at NNU. He has been willing and able to give them time off or more hours when they needed it. Our youngest son is a junior at Skyview, and has just started working there. Our family knows if we ever needed anything Jim would be there to help us out. We are very fortunate that our children have had an employer that has been fair but also has high expectations in their work ethics.

Sincerely,

Tim & Julie Dranginis