We were struck when we recently asked a political candidate if there was anyone in particular in New Hampshire public service whom he admired and would try to emulate if elected.

“Dave Wheeler,’’ was the immediate reply.

Dave Wheeler is one of five members of the Executive Council, a body that is little known or understood but which wields considerable power in our state’s unusual executive branch setup.

Wheeler, a Milford resident and the District 5 councilor, is a man of strong conviction, and common sense. He is being pilloried by consumer railroad afficionados for daring to vote against a multi-million dollar feasibility study at a time when neither the state nor the nation has multi-millions to throw around.

Wheeler is sticking to his guns. In an interview with the Nashua Telegraph last week, he predicted that, “the day will come when we have full passenger rail service to the Nashua area.”

But that day is a long way off. Southern New Hampshire today doesn’t have the population density to justify such rail, which requires considerably more public aid than do cars and buses.

Three previous studies, he said, have shown him that passenger rail here and now is not affordable. To get it up and running would cost $500 million that we don’t have.

“Common sense,” Wheeler said, “answers the questions for a lot less than $3.7 million” that another study would cost.

If the voters of the Nashua area continue to have that same common sense, they will reelect Dave Wheeler to the Executive Council.