The Pickens Sentinel does not endorse candidates for office. We believe in presenting objective, unbiased information about candidates, and feel that endorsing one candidate over another could cloud that objectivity.

The one thing we absolutely, positively do endorse is voters making informed decisions at the polls, whether on June 8 or in November, and we’re pleased to devote so much space in this week’s edition to coverage of candidates for local, statewide and federal office.

Voter turnout is lower during a general

election as compared to a presidential election year, and there are those in our county and state who won’t head out to their polling place on June 8.

If asked why, they may say, “We’re not electing a president. It doesn’t matter.”

That’s a bald-faced lie. This election cycle does matter. The problems that our leaders – on the local, state and federal – will face during their terms are huge, and will impact each one of us.

The economy. Industry recruitment and retention. Taxation. The environment. Health care. Education. Immigration. Those issues don’t just affect a small number of us; they affect us all, and those who will come after us.

All too often during a debate situation, the first candidate who answers a question will field a nice response, and their opponents will latch on it and parrot it back when their time comes. The candidates for governor were especially guilty of this during televised debates.

When this happens, when the cameras are off, and the candidates go back to the campaign trail, voters realize that all they’ve been left with is a sort of verbal photo of the candidate – appealing, yes, but lacking depth.

That’s why the recent Third Congressional District candidate forum hosted by the Pickens County Republican Party was so refreshing.

The questions, selected from those submitted by party members, forced candidates to actually respond to the issues, and not just deliver sound bites. And the way the questions were presented by moderator Karen Floyd eliminated the chance for candidates to simply play “follow the leader.”

The format forced candidates to take positions that didn’t simply follow the party line.

It encouraged the six hopefuls to set themselves apart from their opponents and take stances.

That’s the kind of thing we need to have more of in the run up to elections.

We hope that our readers find our election coverage informative and enlightening – and we’ll see you at the polls.