Reports from the recent election reiterated that politicking had become an increasingly costly business, win or lose. Democrat Nancy Hiebert, the winner of a county commission race, had outspent her Republican opponent, Hank Booth, by $3,913. Hiebert’s total campaign costs had run $11,203, about $2.64 per vote. Booth’s total had been $7,110, or about $1.96 a vote.

City commissioners got an earful from people who were upset by the city’s adoption of “lifeline” natural gas rates that forced all customers to subsidize lower rates for the needy.