Here's to the 'losers' of Election 2006

On Wednesday, when it seemed to be all about the winners of Tuesday's elections, we were reminded of the losers.

We applaud them.

For without them democracy would not work. In our democratic contests, one party, one candidate must lose, but their ideas don't have to. And it's up to the losers to make sure they don't.

Especially this year. The Democrats have taken control of the U.S. Senate, thanks to two independents that will caucus with them, giving them a slight 51-49 majority. The makeup of the House is split in favor of the Democrats 229-196. The winners in both of Carson City's leadership positions had less than 52 percent of the vote. We think the losers should have the most to say.

Neal Weaver and Tom Keeton, who gave Supervisors Pete Livermore and Robin Williamson a race to the end, should not vanish as fast as election signs should.

The losers' ideas have merit with the public and they should bring those issues forward, work to keep their opponents answering to the residents of Carson City for all of these next four years.

Loser Dina Titus, whose opponent called the race for Nevada governor "a nightmare," has much to say.

But it will be how she says it that defines who she is as a person and as a candidate. Her behavior in the upcoming session will be one of the key-determining factors that will show voters if they made the right decision.

Early Wednesday morning her comments smacked of bitterness and derision. For Nevada's sake, we're hoping it was just fatigue and frustration. "This new governor may not find it quite as easy to push some of his agenda," Titus said of Gov. Elect Jim Gibbons.

"I've conceded the race to him. I called and congratulated him," she said. "But I'm not conceding the state. I still have an agenda that I'm going to work for very aggressively."

If she approaches her role as Senate minority leader with the same enthusiasm she approached it in the past, pushes aside partisanship and gets on with the state's business, then the 44 percent of Nevada voters who supported her can feel confident in their choice. If she approaches it with the negativity, bitterness and temerity we saw at the end of the campaign, she, and Nevada, will be the losers.