We are, of course, glad that estimates and predictions concerning how long the recount would take proved to be inaccurate. We can only hope that when assessing the payroll for the time spent on this endeavor that it likewise will be less costly than many feared.

We are unsurprised that the results showed any inaccuracies in the vote totals were statistically insignificant. We were confident in the abilities of our county’s election staff to determine the correct outcome in the first place. We are confident that no matter how much needless doubt is sowed following future elections that Lycoming County’s election staff will still be able to correctly determine the winners of elections.

We, unfortunately, are also unsurprised that the recount seems to have resolved nothing. The vocal minority that pressed the elections board to approve this endeavor remain unconvinced. As has been the case throughout this debacle, the arguments and reasoning for why anyone should be skeptical about the election results shifts and changes, mutating as claims fail to withstand scrutiny. As the Sun-Gazette reported last May, the organizers of statewide canvassing to call election results into question frequently relied upon statements from people regarding whether they thought family members and roommates voted, otherwise slanted respondents’ answers to produce the outcome they sought and failed to confirm addresses and timelines.

What we need now isn’t an unending fixation on an election that happened more than two years ago. We need conservatives to successfully argue for smaller government and fiscal restraint, for sensible, affordable energy policies and an economic climate that rewards hard work and allows businesses to succeed.

We remain certain that this sideshow is a distraction from the serious work conservative lawmakers and officials must do, to counter the arguments for government overreach, environmental alarmism, irresponsible public spending and other progressive efforts. We remain certain this sideshow impedes the ability of conservatives to learn and improve how to make the case to voters in the vast middle for conservatism — for conservative positions on important policies and for conservative candidates.

We need a way forward — not to keep looking back.