First impressions, they say, are the most important. But keeping a lasting impression is just as important, and the people of Demopolis and Marengo County did an excellent job earlier this week when U.S. Rep. Artur Davis visited.

For the many industries, like Cemex, which went above and beyond the duty of hosting our congressman, we thank you for taking the time to reinforce the positive impression Congressman Davis has about the area. We also thank the area leaders who took an entire day to walk Davis through the integral industries of Marengo and surrounding counties.

While many people may have looked at Davis’ visit as just another photo opportunity, what we all must realize is that having a congressman who is so close to our area makes a world of difference in Washington, D.C. You can bet that when Davis left Demopolis, he made a mental note of another project he wants to complete, or some more funding he’d like to see directed to our area.

Along the same lines, we’d like to take a moment to thank Davis for his unwavering support of his district. For nearly a year, Davis has served our region as a representative in Washington, and his determination to make a difference has not been unnoticed.

Whether you’re a Republican or Democrat, it’s easy to see that Davis has been a friend to the area. He has not made politically biased decisions based on political relationships. Rather, he has taken time to hear all of us the same.

For years, this Congressional district felt as though it were part of the neglected and forgotten western half of Alabama. In just a year’s time, Davis has made an enormous difference in the way we perceive our Washington representative.

In reality, there haven’t been any new industries that have come, and there hasn’t been an enormous increase in jobs during Davis’ tenure in Washington. However, just being in the district and hearing the concerns of the constituents may be the most important duty a congressman can fulfill.

We trust that Davis will continue to work hard for the people of Demopolis and Marengo County. We also know the good things associated with having adequate representation &045;&045; like industries and new jobs &045;&045; will come to fruition in due time.