This election season, voters sent their Republican incumbents at the state and national levels back into office by resounding margins, cognizant, we believe, of the importance of having well versed political leaders with experience handling the many serious issues that face us in the coming months and years.

In Nassau County, where voters expressed anger at the polls against Republicans last year, that is an interesting turn of events. Perhaps voters see a real difference between those who represent them at the national and state level, with those who represent them at the county level. Or, perhaps the county has gone back to its traditionally Conservative ways.

Part of that could have been a reaction to the 19 percent tax hike passed by the Democratically controlled Nassau County Legislature. And, while it is important to acknowledge that a large part of that increase is undoubtedly due to the fiscal mismanagement under former Republican County Executive Tom Gulotta, more responsible cuts, combined with a phased in property tax increase would have lightened that burden.

Whatever the reasons, the voters in Nassau County have spoken and their message is clear: They will continue to look for qualified elected officials, who are responsive to their needs both at the local and national levels and they will support overwhelmingly those who fulfill those requirements while quickly oust those who do not.