When I first started covering local politics almost a decade ago, I had this thought that they were inherently less partisan than much of the national conversation. While national political figures argued about the major culture clashes of the day, the work of local leaders was decidedly less sexy, my thinking went. Whereas a U.S. Senator might become famous largely through criticizing the opposition party, those in municipal government had to make decisions about issues that provided no easy Democratic or Republican answers. Where should we place this road? How should we address neighborhood flooding concerns? The work of local government is essential, but in a more grassroots manner. A Democrat and a Republican could conceivably agree on how to address some of the biggest issues in a way that seems impossible in Washington D.C. these days.