It’s not the case with people, of course. But with boats, when the average age of the “family” is 32.27 years — including the short-haul “baby” Lituya, at 9, and two fast ferries that don’t do long runs over open ocean — that’s an old bunch of boats.

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Thelma Ratzeburg, 88, died in Ketchikan on June 11, 2013.

Ernestine Delores Kuc, 62, died June 11, 2013, of natural causes at her residence in Ketchikan.

Juliette Rae Gardner, 52, died on June 9, 2013, in Ketchikan.

Patrick Ford Dwyer, 52, died at his home in Seattle on June 4, 2013.

This was a tough election.

Not that voters had a lot of choices. The only contested race was the city mayor's.

But lack of choice tends to discourage voters from going to the polls.

Thankfully, the sun shone on Tuesday. It made it more likely voters wanted to get out, and while out, well, might as well vote.

It is a right not all enjoy. It is important to do it even when the ballot choices are limited. So thanks to those who voted, showing faith and commitment to our system of government.

That said, it's also important to show support for those willing to serve, even if they run unopposed, as with the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly, City Council and School Board. Ketchikan's most dedicated voters did that.

Once again the seats on the assembly and the board and in the city are filled, and the election is history.

Now the work begins anew with a whole array of challenges and opportunities for the community and its schools.

The people who will be tackling this work are Board Members Ginny Clay, Dave Timmerman, Michelle O'Brien, Misty Archibald, Stephen Bradford, Colleen Scanlon and Ralph Beardsworth; Borough Mayor Dave Kiffer and Assembly Members Bill Rotecki, Todd Phillips, Mike Salazar, Alan Bailey, Agnes Moran, Glen Thompson and Mike Painter, and City Mayor Lew Williams III and Council Members DeAnn Karlson, Dick Coose, Marty West, Sam Bergeron, Bob Sivertsen, Matt Olsen and K.J. Harris.

Thank you to all of you for your willingness to do the public's business and your devotion to the job. It's an incredibly important one, ergo the honor of it. These individuals can do the community proud.