Times are different. I believe a state legislator should have a thorough understanding of his or her community; its difficulties, fears, and aspirations.  Since no community is of a single mind, a legislator must be a consensus builder focusing on the values the community shares and working through the issues that divide. I spend a significant part of my law practice as a mediator assisting other attorneys and litigants to find solutions to difficult issues.  While practicing law certainly involves advocacy, at its heart, trials, appeals and settlements require a developing strategies to find common ground.