Dear Santa,

We haven’t written very often lately. But let’s face it, we haven’t been that good and we’re all starting to worry about getting coal in the Loudoun Times-Mirror stocking. Our publisher assures us that we’re not on the naughty list and that you’re relatively forgiving regarding the occasional typo and slow-posted story and has encouraged us to send you our LTM wish list again this year.

So here is our letter to Santa. Without sounding too greedy, Santa, we have a lot of things on our wish list this year, and none of them are from a department store catalog.
It’s good that your sleigh is reindeer-powered because gas prices are still a little high for our tastes and the traffic at ground level doesn’t seem to be getting any better. We’ve asked for several years now, but can we please have a reasonable transportation funding plan come out of Richmond this year? A funding plan will be easier than asking for all the road improvements individually – and it’s something we’ve been promised before.  If possible, try to avoid letting the reindeer stop for a rest on Route 7. There have been a few too many deer-related accidents lately and we’re concerned about Dasher and Blitzen.

And it’s not really a road, Santa, but can you please bring us light rail to Dulles and out into Ashburn. We’re certain that it’s on a lot of our neighbors wish list this year too, but we’re willing to share. The Silver Line is a little expensive, but we think it’s worth it – it can be our big present this year.

We’d like clean water, too. It seems a easy request, but far too many of our readers and friends in Raspberry Falls and other communities have had problems with their water. With that in mind, can we have a pipeline to these communities or a special treatment plant, please?

This one is tricky. Can we also have an end to the Loudoun County Courthouse grounds debate. We’re not always certain who is right and who’s wrong, but we’re ready for everyone just to get along. And don’t worry about the skeleton Santa display. It’s art and not intended as any sort of anti-Santa threat. (You are allowed to give the maker coal this year, though.)

And we know that we’re the only ones who make Christmas wishes about elections, but can you deliver us a clean campaign season in 2012 – one that focuses on a mature debate on the issues? It sounds hard, but I’m certain that Frosty and the elves can make it happen.

Along the same lines, you made an early delivery of many new elected officials in November. Since we have them already, can we suggest helping them get acclimated quickly and working to give them a sense of cooperation and accountability to help them through the New Year? The first test for them will be the county budget ; so Santa, can you deliver us a budget with no more than minimal tax increases and not too much cutting from programs?

While we’re on the subject, can we have an economic recovery, too? A matching real estate property value increase would be nice. A lot of organizations and politicians have promised to put a little economic development in our stockings this year, but we know that you and Mrs. Claus can really deliver.

We understand that you still like milk and cookies left out for you. To help make that possible, we’d like to see more local restaurants and rural development in Loudoun. We’re certain you’re already taking advantage of some of our local food and wines, but the economy has been hard on many of our small businesses. So, could you drop some strong economic elf-dust and help out our small businesses and new restaurants?

Peace on Earth and good will toward men would be nice, too.

—Happy holidays from the entire staff at the Loudoun Times-Mirror and Times Community Media. May you and your family take joy in the season and hold onto a little bit of it in your heart throughout the year.

P.S. Upon reconsideration, we would like a pony too – even if accounting says it’s a bad idea.