If the current numbers don’t change much, there will be a change in the leadership for the City of Poulsbo come January. As of Thursday morning, City Councilwoman Becky Erickson was leading incumbent Kathryn Quade by 1,106 to 948 votes in the mayoral race.

This hasn’t been the nicest of campaigns, as battle lines were distinctly drawn between the sitting council members and Erickson.

The council members came down clearly on the side of Quade, as was shown in a letter to the editor that ran in the Oct. 23 edition of the Herald. That has to make things uncomfortable.

Now that the campaign is over and the ballots are still being counted, we’re hoping that’s all water under the bridge.

A council and mayor don’t always have to agree, but they should always focus on the issues at hand and what’s best for the residents of Poulsbo.

As the city is heading into some dark economic times, there are some tough decisions that need to be made. These decisions cannot be reached through petty bickering.

The city is looking at a 5 percent reduction across all departments and dipping into the reserves to the tune of $255,000 to balance next year’s general fund budget.

Each decision the council makes will have an effect on the safety, property and well-being of Poulsbo residents. They should not be made lightly, nor should they be made with hurt feelings caused by a nasty campaign.

In the interest of all Poulsbo residents, we hope the council will be able to come together, no matter who holds the mayoral gavel, and do what’s best for the residents of Viking City.