With only 11 days remaining until Virginians head to the polls, negative ads — always expected, but never welcome — are flooding the airwaves. The calculation of many campaigns is that the period for winning voters to their side is over, and that the best they can now do is to discourage Virginians likely to support their opponent from casting a ballot.

That’s unfortunate and a strategy repeated each election cycle. The best antidote to this behavior, as always, is to show up on Nov. 4 and vote, choosing to participate in our electoral process rather than embracing the cynicism these negative ad peddlers seek to cultivate.

The general election next month promises to make considerable changes to the elected leadership of our commonwealth and many area communities. The statewide races for

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