The recent election results for Freeborn County were a mixed bag, if we’re trying to gauge what local residents see as priorities for the future of the county. There was no clear message; there was no &uot;mandate&uot; for any one group.

On funding for education, voters in the Albert Lea School District said &uot;Yes&uot; to increased school funding, but voters in Glenville and Emmons said &uot;No&uot; to the same question. Voters in the other county school districts didn’ t get a chance to say anything &045; their turn will come next year, probably.

Albert Lea voters rejected some incumbents, and with new members on the city council and a new mayor, hopes are high that things will now, finally, start changing at city hall. Freeborn County has a new sheriff, and two re-elected commissioners who have clear mandates on the courthouse &045; how they’ll resolve the fact that their mandates contradict each other will be interesting to watch.

On solving the state’s budget woes and helping get the state’s economy out of recession, the Republican Party is now responsible for answers to the state’s current fiscal problems. But they won without a solid majority of voters on their side &045; they can’t afford to make any mistakes and expect to remain in power. And it is interesting that our current senator, Grace Schwab, didn’t do as well as Republican colleagues elsewhere. We still don’t know who won that election.

Other issues that are creating mixed messages weren’t the result of voters’ decisions. Ford said, &uot;Thanks, but no thanks&uot; to locating its new distribution center in Albert Lea. And Farmland still hasn’t taken any more steps to rebuilding a meat-processing facility here. We’re still waiting for groundbreaking on the proposed biodiesel refinery. And while the Green Mill restaurant chain is putting a franchise in Albert Lea, and Wal-Mart looks more interested in building a superstore, rumors fly about Home Depot’s future.

Amidst all this ambiguity we all still need to keep on building a future for this community. Hope has won out over despair &045; at least for now. But hopes and dreams won’t become reality without effort. Some positive steps have been taken, but more hard work lies ahead.

Much of that work will need to be done by the people and organizations who have stepped forward to serve as leaders in economic development:

– The chamber’s board of directors and its staff

– Pam Bishop and Greater Jobs

– Paul Sparks and new Mayor Jean Eaton in Albert Lea

– Ron Gabrielsen and the county commissioners

These people bear a big responsibility now, and one that may become even more complex if the new governor balances the budget through drastic cuts to local government aid. Without more jobs, the fresh air the election brought into the community this fall will quickly become stagnant and sickly. Hope may have governed our decision-making, but despair lies just under the surface.

My own hopes are that we will focus on the quality of life for current and future residents. Tourism is something that we need to encourage and plan for, but the needs of those who live here (or who might live here someday) need to take priority. For example, a recreational trail that links up with others to form an unbroken route across southeastern Minnesota will be great for both residents and visitors. But bike trails from the west side of Albert Lea out to the City Arena or from downtown to the high school and the mall make just as much sense. Why not make it both safer and easier for people to walk or bike out to the arena or around town? Other issues need to be treated the same way: Quality of life for those who live here needs to be a priority.

Economic development also means thinking regionally instead of just about individual communities. All of the small towns in Freeborn County will thrive if more employers locate in Albert Lea. And Albert Lea will benefit as Austin, Owatonna, Wells and Mason City thrive. We need to think in terms of cooperation and not just competition; winning at the expense of nearby neighbors only brings short-term benefits. In the end, we all will sink or swim together.

David Rask Behling is a rural Albert Lea resident. His column appears Tuesdays.