Thirty-eight men and women have qualified to run for county offices, but your Clarksdale Press Register asks, “Are they qualified to hold office?”
We are pleased with the number of candidates who have thrown their hat in the ring. Choice is a good thing, but sadly, voters don’t always make good choices.
Please take a look at the list of candidates we have published in this week’s paper. You certainly know some of them, but there are probably some on that list you have never heard of.
There are incumbents who know the ropes and probably know you, because that is a talent you must have to be successful in politics.
There are first-timers who may have decided to run because they didn’t get what they wanted out of county government and feel they can do better.
And then there are those who have their eyes on the millions that are spent by county government and they have been wowed by the six-figure salaries some of our elected officials make.
Newspapers admire people who honestly and sincerely run for political office to make their community better.
Coahoma County has a long list of needs and a shrinking list of revenue. Being an elected official in this day and age requires business sense, wisdom and thick skin.
There are those that are on the ballot who have these talents. There are slackers too, who are just in it for themselves.
Your Clarksdale Press Register hopes you will look candidates in the eye and ask them where they live.
We hope you look at how they dress, the cars they drive and houses they live in and ponder how they acquired them.
We hope voters realize this is not a popularity contest and those they vote for and support need to be the best this community can produce.
Your Clarksdale Press Register urges you to find out who these men and women really are and what drives them to run for office.
This summer we will choose county officials who will lead us for the next four years. We need qualified people who can get the job done.
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