POLITICS ASIDE:1 day, 7 hopefuls

Well, day one of the Daily Pilot’s endorsement interviews are finished.

And our minds are already made up in just about every race. So to all the other candidates out there, you don’t need to come in.

I’m kidding. (And hoping that people read at least until the third paragraph of my columns. The fourth one I have no illusions about.)

So far, I’m pleased to say, the interviews have gone well, as I remember them going. We touch on issues, we ask about the campaigns, and I think we get a pretty fair sense of the candidates.

All in all, they end up being pretty good discussions.

Without tipping my hat concerning who we have talked to so far, I can say that we met with three candidates I wasn’t familiar with and four that we at the paper know, for various reasons.

One thing I find surprising is how similar the conversations end up going, even though we tend to have to touch a lot of simple background with the “newcomer” candidates. It’s probably because, at this point, all the candidates are doing some of the same basic work: walking precincts, meeting with small groups of people, calling voters on the phone.

To a great extent, the 28 candidates running for our two city councils and school board might just be the best informed when it comes to what the pressing issues in the community are. It’s always helpful to hear what they are hearing as they tramp about town.

Because of the knowledge candidates gain during the campaign, it is always disappointing to see the losers disappear after the election. These folks are all great resources; I’d encourage the winners in the races to bring their opponents into the fold. It might be worth the trouble.

My advice aside, I’m happy to be able to report that, so far anyway, the candidates all seem to have the right intent and the capability to serve if voters choose them. We’ve certainly heard some varying opinions on what the community needs or what is going right and wrong, but all seem committed to making this community a better place.

Of course, we still have about 21 candidates to go.