After the Race, We Chose Respect. That’s the Example We Owe the Next Generation
Karen Hartley-Nagle- May 5
- 5 min read
Updated: May 8
Politics can be ugly.
Anyone who tells you otherwise isn’t paying attention — or hasn’t lived through it.
It’s not just what you see on the news.
It’s what you feel in your neighborhood.
It’s what you hear in whispers — the quiet conversations you hope your kids aren’t listening to.
It’s the venom. The innuendo. The whisper campaigns.
It’s the personal attacks that live online forever — long after the votes are counted.
Too often, it’s not about ideas or policy. It’s not even about public service. It’s about tearing people down — not just during the campaign, but long after it ends.
The damage lingers. The division deepens.
And the people who feel the impact most?
Not the candidates.
Not the campaign operatives.
But our families.
Our children.
If you’ve ever had to look your son or daughter in the eye while they read a lie about you online…If you’ve ever tried to explain to a child why someone they’ve never met, and you don’t know, is calling their parent “corrupt,” “crazy,” or “a bad person”...If you’ve ever had to wipe away their tears and remind them that telling the truth and doing good work still matters —
Then you know.
It hurts.
And it shouldn’t be the cost of public service.
But I believe — with everything in me — that there’s another way.
And I’m not just saying that. I’m living it.
In 2020, Monique William-Johns ran against me.
In 2024, Marcus Henry and I ran against each other for New Castle County Executive.
That same year, Monique ran for — and won — the Council President seat I chose not to seek after eight years of service. Marcus won the County Executive race.
Those were hard-fought campaigns. We didn’t always agree. But we never forgot who we were doing it for:
the people of New Castle County.
And now — after all that — we are working together.
With mutual respect. With shared purpose. And yes, with genuine friendship.
That kind of leadership may be rare in politics today — but it shouldn’t be. Because this work — the real work — doesn’t end when the ballots are counted. It begins with how we treat each other after.
I’m proud to support Marcus and Monique in their new roles.
And I’m deeply honored that they’ve chosen to support me as I run for Brandywine School Board.
Their endorsements mean more than I can say — not because of politics, but because of what they represent: trust, unity, and the belief that we are better when we lead together.
“I am happy to offer my endorsement to Karen Hartley-Nagle in her candidacy for the Brandywine School District Board. I understand this might surprise some people since we recently campaigned against each other to be New Castle County Executive, but Karen has been a friend and colleague for many years. She is a thoughtful and caring mother who brings years of experience in public service. I believe Karen’s extensive public sector experience would bring tremendous value to the Brandywine School District Board and I am happy to support her. I urge you to vote for Karen Hartley-Nagle on May 13th for Brandywine School Board.”
— Marcus Henry, New Castle County Executive
“I am honored to endorse Karen Hartley-Nagle for the Brandywine School Board. As the successor to her former role as New Castle County Council President, I regularly hear from constituents who praise her unwavering commitment to our community. Over the last eight years, I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Karen, witnessing her passion for inclusive education, her strong advocacy, and her results-driven leadership in action. Karen is truly dedicated to ensuring every student in the Brandywine School District has the support they need to succeed. Please join me in supporting Karen Hartley-Nagle for the Brandywine School Board.”
— Monique William-Johns, President, New Castle County Council
These aren’t just kind words.
They’re a choice — to lead with respect, not resentment.
To collaborate, not compete.
To lift each other up — because our community deserves nothing less.
When we talk about what’s broken in politics, we often forget the real cost.
It’s not just the candidate who gets hurt. It’s their children. Their parents. Their neighbors.
It’s the community that starts to believe cruelty is strength — and that winning is more important than truth.
That’s not the example I want to set. Not for my children. Not for anyone’s.
This is a hard time to lead.
People are tired. Families are stretched. Trust in our institutions is low.
But people still need leaders they can believe in — who tell the truth, do the work, and show up without playing the ugly games.
And that’s exactly what I intend to do.
I’m not running for Brandywine School Board to climb higher. I’m running to give back. To offer everything I’ve learned to a district that means the world to me — and to serve our children, our families, and our educators with clarity, compassion, and courage.
Because we can do this differently.
We can disagree without becoming enemies.
We can compete without tearing each other down.
We can lose with grace. Win with humility.
And yes — we can run against each other… and still stand shoulder to shoulder.
We all have children. And we all know what it’s like to shield them from things they shouldn’t have to hear — the attacks, the whisper campaigns, the lies.
But what does that teach them?
If we aren’t careful, we teach them that cruelty is clever. That lies win votes. That leadership is about tearing people down — instead of lifting communities up.
But I believe in a different lesson.
That how we lead after the race matters just as much as how we campaign.
That when the signs come down and the cameras turn off — our character steps in.
That we can still choose grace.
I’ve taken the hits that come with putting your name on the line. So have Marcus. So has Monique. We’ve had our values questioned. Our motives doubted. Our reputations challenged.
But we’re still here.
Still serving.
Still choosing decency.
Because that’s what public service should mean.
It’s not about vengeance.
It’s not about ego.
It's not about who won the last race.
It’s about how we keep showing up — together — for the people who need us.
This is what I’m carrying with me into this next chapter.
I believe in strong schools.
I believe in honest leadership.
And I believe public service should still mean something.
That’s why I’ll continue to support Marcus and Monique.
And that’s why I’m asking for your support — not just for me, but for something bigger.
For the idea that leadership can still be decent.
That politics can still be about people.
That the next generation deserves more than what they’re seeing now.
So, let’s give them something better.
Vote Karen Hartley-Nagle for Brandywine School Board on Tuesday, May 13th.
Let’s raise the standard. Let’s choose grace. Let’s show our children what real leadership looks like.
