Grace, humility were on display

It’s rare to encounter humility, grace and character in the public arena.
But all three were on display this week at a Dunkirk City Council meeting.
Humility came in the form of Mayor Gene Ritter’s public acknowledgment that mayor of Dunkirk isn’t a part-time job.
Ritter, an engineer, had campaigned in part on the notion that he could effectively serve as mayor while holding down a full-time job — and a commute — in the manufacturing world.
To admit that he underestimated the task before him required candor and honesty.
Grace was demonstrated by former mayor Dan Watson, who lost to Ritter in November’s election, but who has now stepped forward to accept a leadership role in Dunkirk’s quest to be designated a Stellar Community.
His defeat at the polls hurt Watson deeply; he sincerely believed he had earned another term.
It would have been easy to walk away from the election feeling sorry for himself. It would have been easy to be petulant.
To set the election aside and re-dedicate himself to his community required grace and a willingness to rise above past conflicts.
Both men displayed tremendous character this week.
Dunkirk is better because of that, and the example the two set should encourage us all. — J.R.