State Sen. Jim Brewster once more has been sworn in to office.

On Wednesday morning, the Democrat from McKeesport finally took his oath to represent the people of the 45th District in the Pennsylvania Senate for his third term. He is the last to do so after the incredibly close race with Republican opponent Nicole Ziccarelli, a New Kensington attorney who lives in Lower Burrell, came down to challenged ballots and a federal court case.

In the end, just 69 votes made the difference — a poignant example of why every single vote and voter matters.

It has been two months of confusion. The time between election and swearing in usually is spent preparing for the coming year’s work or making the transition from one officeholder to the next. Instead, the residents of the 45th had no idea who would be in their corner when it was all said and done.

Now they do. Good. It’s time to get down to business.

Brewster may have one of the most difficult jobs in the Senate, and this confusion has not made it any easier. The 45th seat straddles county lines, but that doesn’t matter in some places. District 8, for example, sits in Delaware and Philadelphia counties, and voters there are not deeply divided. District 23, in north-central Pennsylvania, crosses five county lines, all reliably red.

But the 45th is a teeter-totter. It is half Allegheny and half Westmoreland, half Democrat and half Republican. It is the entirety of Pennsylvania reduced to one balancing act of a Senate seat.

Brewster knows that. He represents the interests of the district knowing that any constituent who comes to him for help may not be of his party. Questions of party are put aside to do what is right to help all of the people. We are confident he will continue to serve that way.

But wouldn’t Harrisburg be a better place if everyone went into the job knowing their voters were not from one party or the other but such a close mix of all?

Ziccarelli was a hair’s breadth from holding that office. She pursued her challenges with a passion that makes it likely she has other public service in her future.

“Based on the razor-thin election results in this district, there is no question that we are divided right down the middle. I am asking all of us to come together and support Senator Brewster,” she said in her gracious concession statement.

And that is important.

It is not just critical for the person representing the 45th District to go into the office prepared to stand for Democrats and Republicans alike.

It is just as crucial for the people of the 45th District to support their leadership — and each other — with the same honest commitment, despite differences.

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