I’m a longtime participant in politics and government. I served as a congressional staffer during the 1970s and 80s; in the 1990s my career took a different turn and I retired in 2018 from 20+ years in public education. I strongly believe that civil political discussion is essential, that compromise is integral to the success of a democracy, and that we as a nation can only be as strong as the bonds we build with our fellow citizens.