Grateful for support

Dear Editor,

In 1858, when Abraham Lincoln lost a senate campaign to Stephen Douglas, Lincoln compared his reaction to the defeat to "stubbing his toe in the dark."

Lincoln said he was "too big to cry, and too badly hurt to laugh." While I am disappointed by the outcome of Tuesday's election, my family and I are honored to received enough votes to place within 1.4 percent of a distinguished, well-respected incumbent and my congratulations go out to both of the winning candidates.

I will be forever grateful to the many contributors, volunteers and supporters who backed my campaign and hope that they will join me in supporting the winning candidates. The City of McCook, and for that matter, the entire country, are facing turbulent times and it behooves us all to work together.

As for me, I hope to continue my associations with the McCook Main Street program, the Leadership Institute and Buffalo Commons. The energies I would have dedicated to the McCook City Council can now be focused on job, home, family and the pursuit of a graduate degree.

Again, I am sincerely grateful for the support I received in the recent election and wish the very best for the victors, the council and the city.

Respectfully,

Mike O'Dell,

McCook