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By DANIEL LOCKE | Staff Writer

Throughout the process of covering the municipal elections, the races in Helena were of particular interest to me, as these individuals would be trusted to make decisions to guide the place I call home forward.

One race that stood out above the rest was the one for Place 5 on Helena’s City Council, the largest with four candidates. It was the only one to require a runoff.

Jeff McDaniels and Alex Miller were neck-and-neck the whole way, but judging from the way they handled things, it would have been difficult to tell they were political opponents.

I started my job at the Shelby County Reporter at an interesting time. Our coverage of the municipal elections across the county was underway by the time I joined the newsroom, and I felt behind. For the most part, I was completely unfamiliar with these candidates until I came across a name I knew well.

Alex Miller, a star wrestler who graduated from Helena High School a few years before I did, had decided to enter the race for a spot on Helena’s City Council. He was the youngest candidate pursuing a spot by a significant margin, but you wouldn’t be able to tell that by the way he carries himself.

I was familiar with Miller’s leadership abilities. He shortened his own practice time as a 10^th and 11^th grader to teach newcomers to the sport of wrestling, such as myself, the fundamentals. My first match didn’t go too well, but when I walked off the mat, Miller was there to provide words of encouragement and even highlighted some things I did well.

Miller’s leadership was not limited to wrestling. He took a Helena High student who was a frequent target of bullying under his wing. No one is willing to admit how difficult it is to do something like that in a high school. That’s the kind of character I want to see in a city leader.

Although I was not as familiar with McDaniels as I was Miller, I didn’t have to be around him long to understand the positive impact he would have if elected. His calm demeanor paired with an extensive leadership resume, including honorable military service, made me think he was the type of person Helena needs at a pivotal time in the city.

The biggest tragedy of the election was that Helena would miss out on having one of these men on its council for the next four years.

When the negative energy that has become a mainstay in politics at all levels tried to make its way into this race, both candidates refused to let it happen, further displaying the integrity they both possess.

When McDaniels had won, he exchanged a handshake with Miller and offered him words of encouragement, the same thing Miller had done for me years ago.

From beginning to end, negative comments were avoided. Handshakes were given. Serving the community was put first. We can all learn something from McDaniels and Miller.