Our Viewpoint Editorials
Forums will give us info for election

This coming month, forums have been scheduled for candidates up for election in the March primary for Jasper County.

The Democrat Club of Jasper County will host two forums in February and March at the District Courtroom and the Buna sub-courtroom. The Kirbyville Lions and the Kirbyville Women's Club have set up another forum with invites going out to all the candidates.

These forums will allow the candidates to reach the public with their views on the offices they seek. It will allow them to inform the public why they should garner their vote over the other candidates in the race.

These forums will also give the general public a chance to see the candidates in action. Achance to hear their platforms, their views on a variety of subjects and see how they handle pressure situations.

It is at these forums that uninformed voters can make their choices for office. They can hear all the candidates and make an informed choice when they visit the voting booths in March.

Traditionally, all the candidates appear at these forums as it gives them an opportunity to reach the voting public in an unbiased forum. The questions are not set one way or the other and the forums are all professionally run to ensure a productive process.

Kudos to the groups hosting the forums. Your contribution to the political season is invaluable. In small counties such as Jasper, gossip and rumors can easily play a part in political races. Once the rumor mill gets going, there is nothing that can be done to stop it.

These forums can make or break a political career. Astrong showing can produce early favorites. Candidates will either move to top of their race or start making plans for the removal of their signs.

We encourage all registered voters to attend one of the forums scheduled in the coming month. All votes count in March but informed voters can truly make a difference.

Roses go to….

t All the winners at the Jasper Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and to those who braved the rainy weather to attend this year's event at the Wesley Center.

t To all the church choirs who participated in the Sing With One Voice event at St. Michaels's. The annual event is a blessing to this community in many ways as it allows us all to unite and enjoy music.

t To all the Jasper High School seniors who took the challenge and entered this year's Bulldog Bark. Good job guys.

Thorns go to….

t Houstonians who burglarize. Five visitors from southwest of here gave that town another black eye as they ventured into our county in an attempt to burglarize county pharmacies. Maybe our police have sent the right message to these visitors that their actions will not be tolerated around here.