Political parties attract people of similar views and political interests. Party makes a difference. Our current political conventions prove that.

I had three brothers whom I loved dearly. We were split equally, two Republicans and two Democrats. We kept up with most political issues because we held strong opinions and had to defend our beliefs. No holds barred.

We learned that people could think differently about many things of common interest and yet be friends. Many of us know of spouses who love each other and raise families while holding different political beliefs. I know couples of different religions who are happily married.

This brings me to the point that I'd like to bring up. Shorewood has 7 members on its Village Board who usually do not have to reveal their party affiliations. Recently Guy Johnson announced that he is running for State representative from our district as a Democrat.

It would seem that at the local level if citizens knew the party inclinations of the officials that we'd know more about the candidate and how he or she was likely to vote and represent us.

At a small gathering recently several persons expressed surprise that Guy Johnson, president of the Shorewood Village Board was a Democrat--one didn't believe the source nor the information.

I think that political party is important and that citizens running for public office should reveal their party affiliations when they announce as candidates.

Now that the president of the Village Board is a known Democrat, let's hear from the others so that we may know where they stand. After all, they presumably represent us.