Long before Hillary Clinton made her public speech to concede defeat in the 2016 presidential election on Wednesday morning — and hours before Donald Trump similarly took to the stage to make a conciliatory victory speech that surprised many who had watched this divisive presidential campaign run its course in recent months — the campaigns for Suffolk City Council, the positions that have the greatest ability to directly affect the lives of most people in the city, had been decided.

Champagne glasses were raised, cheers were shouted and congratulations offered to the winning candidates — all incumbents — around the city. And the losing candidates offered thanks to their supporters, wished their opponents the best and, we imagine, joined much of the rest of the nation in front of television sets tuned to the national election coverage.

As the nation begins to catch up on sleep lost on Tuesday night, and as most of us begin to look toward 2017, wondering what it will hold for the nation, Suffolk prepares for the kind of seamless transition of power that can only take place when all the incumbents are returned to office.

In the mayoral race, that will be Linda Johnson, who won her third election as mayor, stretching her time as Suffolk’s only popularly elected mayor. In the Whaleyville Borough, that will be Councilman Curtis Milteer, who will be starting an unprecedented 10^th term in office. In the Sleepy Hole Borough, that will be Councilman Roger Fawcett, returning for his second term. In the Nansemond Borough, that will be Councilman Lue Ward, also returning for a second term.

Three School Board incumbents were unopposed on Tuesday’s ballot. Dr. Judith Brooks-Buck, David P. Mitnick and Phyllis C. Byrum were re-elected in the Nansemond, Sleepy Hole and Whaleyville boroughs, respectively.

Congratulations to all the local winners. We look forward to four more years of dedicated service to the city from them. And to their unsuccessful opponents, we offer our sincere appreciation for their participation in the democratic process at the municipal level. As with anything, competition makes for better service.