Editorial: The clock is ticking

The deadline for filing to run for a seat on the Iredell County Commission, Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education and for other important positions is drawing near.

Candidates have until noon Friday to submit the appropriate paperwork and pay the required fees at the Iredell County Board of Elections office.

We applaud those who have taken the initial steps toward securing a spot on the ballon, but we'd like to see a few more candidates in the local races step forward in the next few days.

Two of the five declared candidates for three seats on the county commission stand out above the others in terms of name recognition and organization. Incumbent Ken Robertson, a Republican, is the most experienced and most recognizable of the group, and Republican Brad Hward, who ran a close fourth in a six-candidate race for three spots in 2006, is probably the best organized.

Republican Scott Keadle, a former candidate for the U.S. House, will likely claim a seat on the board if no other GOP candidates emerge.

Commissioner Sara Haire Tice will not seek another term, and Commissioner Godfrey Williams, a Republican, is apparently still on the fence.

A couple of Democrats, Fred Coggins and Mark Vanek, have also filed to run, but they will face long odds in the general election.

We don't believe the people's best interests can be served without competitive elections. That's the main reason we'd like to see another candidate emerge in the race for the District 6 seat on the I-SS Board of Education. Incumbent Charles Kelly has no opposition to date. The other two I-SS seats on the ballot, districts 2 and 4, have at least two other candidates.

For all the attention that the race for the White House has been receiving and will continue to receive, the candidates who are elected to the local county commission and school board this year will have more impact on your life and the lives of Iredell County children than the next occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

If you're tired of the status quo or have new ideas that could improve the county government or the management of I-SS, this is your best chance to make your voice heard and make a difference. Time is running out.