Published October 8, 2004


With the general election just four weeks away, an Oct. 19 political candidates forum at the Walker County Civic Center is a prime opportunity for voters to ask hopefuls where they stand on relevant issues. We are fortunate to live in a nation where we select our leaders, and it is our responsibility to make sure we arm ourselves with information about candidates before we head to the polls.

Many voters strictly mark their ballots along distinct party lines or by having simple familiarity with a candidate; however, elections should be about issues, not personalities. Political labels mean little in a region where most candidates are “conservative” by the standards of non-Southerners. The difference between candidates is often not their party, but in the shade of an individual candidate’s conservatism or that candidate’s stance on particular issues.

What office hopefuls truly believe should carry far more weight than a sunny disposition, or the “D” or “R” next to their names. Too often candidates will attempt to ride the coattails of their party’s incumbents or focus solely on ideological issues on which they will never actually get to vote, rather than telling voters what they will do if elected.

The Walker County Chamber of Commerce has invited candidates in races for the U.S. Senate, U.S. 10th Congressional District, state Senate District 53, state House District 1, state House District 2, Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit district attorney, county probate judge, county chief magistrate, county Superior Court clerk, county sheriff, county tax commissioner, county surveyor, county coroner, county commissioner and county school board Posts 1, 3, 4 and 5.

The Chamber said it expects about 100 people to attend the forum. In our opinion, the civic center should be overflowing with residents — and candidates — that night. Being an informed voter is just as important a civic responsibility as voting is.

Basing a vote on anything other than a candidate’s stance on important topics reduces elections to nothing more than popularity contests.

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