It’s always comforting to watch bipartisanship emerge, albeit temporarily.

For most of February, Republicans gathered across Morris County to hear congressional candidates lambaste Mikie Sherrill as a radical leftist who votes in line with Nancy Pelosi and (gasp) AOC.

Sherrill, now in her second term representing CD-11, is very much a centrist, but you have to allow for some political rhetoric, especially when you are appealing to your base.

But even in an era of extreme polarization, there are times when politicians of both stripes just have to do their jobs.

So it was a few days ago that Sherrill invited a bipartisan group of mostly Republican elected officials and community leaders to Picatinny Arsenal to hear an update on the base’s “critical work to strengthen our national defense as well as support the North Jersey economy.”

Picatinny is a big deal in Morris. Aside from its critical role in the defense of the United States, it’s the largest employer in the county. Periodically over the years, officials have feared the base may be closed and its services relocated, but to the relief of many, that has not happened.

Sherrill’s journey to the base included state Sen. Anthony M. Bucco, County Commissioner John Krickus, the deputy director, and mayors of nearby towns – Eric Wilsusen (Jefferson), Joe Jackson (Rockaway Township), Tom Mulligan (Rockaway), Carolyn Blackman (Dover) and Mike Stanzilis (Mount Arlington).  All are Republicans except Blackman. Also on hand were Meghan Hunscher, the president of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, and Anthony J. Iacono, president of County College of Morris.

“I wanted to bring this group of local leaders together for an update on Picatinny’s critical work to bolster our national defense, as well as learn about the many ways the arsenal supports our community and economy right here in NJ-11,” Sherrill said in a statement sent out by her office.

Specifically, the officials got an update from General William M. Boruff, the Joint Program Executive Officer Armaments & Ammunition and Commanding General of the arsenal.

He discussed various aspects of Picatinny’s work in regard to the “lethality” of weapons development and the base’s value to the economy of New Jersey, according to some of those attending.

Many of the officials present provided supportive comments about Picatinny.

Bucco said he’s proud to have the arsenal in the county’s backyard.

Krickus said, “The unique technical skills we see in operation at Picatinny are the very same skills we are providing students through our investments in a new Career Training Center for the Morris County Vocational School District and our expansions at the County College of Morris. We are building a skilled workforce not only to keep our economy strong, but also to provide for our nation’s security.”

All this sounds wonderful, and in truth, it is.

The significance of Picatinny Arsenal to the nation and Morris County can’t be overstated.

And it’s nice to see politics vanish for a spell.

Political junkies, however, have no reason to fret. Raw partisanship is bound to return to CD-11 – and elsewhere – soon enough.