I was eight years old when the “Miracle on Ice” happened. As a young boy from the Midwest, growing up during the Cold War, I can still remember how big of a deal it was. The United States wasn’t supposed to beat the Soviet Union in hockey. They were bigger, faster, and far more experienced. The Soviets were professionals; seasoned veterans who trained together year-round. Meanwhile, the U.S. team was made up entirely of amateur college players. That was the rule back then: no professionals. The deck was stacked against them from the start.

But somehow, under Coach Herb Brooks, that group of American kids pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

Brooks played a huge role in that victory. He didn’t just select the players blindly. He studied their personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. He looked for the right mix of people who could work together, push each other, and form something greater than the sum of their parts.

That’s not all that different from what we do as citizens during local elections.

This November 4^th we’ll have the opportunity to select some of our own “team.” Voters will decide on three City Council seats, the position of Mayor, and several School Board positions. And just like Coach Brooks, we have a responsibility to learn about the individuals on the ballot.  We should, like Coach Brooks, study their character, understand their priorities, and choose those who can best represent and unite our community.

Coach Brooks built a team where no single player was the star. The team was the star. But every great team needs a leader.  Someone who brings out the best in others and unites them behind a common goal. For the 1980 U.S. hockey team, that person was Team Captain Mike Eruzione. He wasn’t the biggest, fastest, or most famous player, but his leadership was undeniable. When the moment came, he delivered the goal that defined the Miracle on Ice.

In Grimes, our next Mayor will play a similar role. The Mayor can’t do it alone, but they can help set the tone for how the team…our City Council, staff, and community work together. The best leaders, like Eruzione, understand that success is about helping everyone pull in the same direction, with a shared belief in what’s possible.

That’s why the business community, through Grimes Chamber & Economic Development, hosts Candidate Forums. We don’t tell people who to vote for, but we do everything we can to make sure they’re informed. Because when we do our homework and work together, we put our community in the best position to compete and win in the future.  So, I challenge you to do your own scouting and then do your best to choose good candidates this and future election cycles.