With a deep sigh of relief that we're finally at the finish line, I look forward to Tuesday's voting, out of which hopefully will come definitive results and the end of some of the most vile, misguided, uninformed rhetoric I've had the displeasure of reading in all my years in this business.

The political process is an interesting one, to say the least. It's always tended to bring out the best and worst of people. But in the past, you at least could identify who was who and where they stood. You might disagree with your neighbors, but you respected their points of view and the mostly civil level of discourse.

Not anymore. Now we have people who "analyze" politics, the media and assorted other issues of the day from the cowardly comfort of anonymity. It's easy to be a big shot when you're hiding behind a tree or a computer keyboard.

Please, everyone, cast your ballots Tuesday. Vote for who you want to lead our communities. Don't allow editorial writers or radio commentators or public access "producers" or bloggers or anyone else tell you how to vote. Prepare yourself before you enter the voting booth. Be aware of what's on the ballot. Spend some time tonight and tomorrow morning doing your homework. Then vote. The more people who cast ballots, the better. Don't be intimidated. You'll be all by yourself when you vote. The decisions are yours.