All elections are important; this one is critical

Guess Columnist Dale Hart
As we near the November 3 General Election it is easy to get overwhelmed from what we see on television, read in the newspapers and online and invariably see on every street corner of our neighborhoods, our front doors and mailboxes.

It’s election time! A time not for the faint of heart and, more importantly, not for the easily annoyed and those of us who suffer from short patience. Everywhere you turn someone is asking for our support, our vote and our money.

I am a self-professed political junkie. I can’t get enough of the debates, presidential primaries, Sunday morning talk shows and daily cable news. However, even I become numb after awhile and tend to think it’s all very interesting, but may not ever really matter.

As I began thinking about our community I was struck at how important next month’s election is to the residents of Panola County.  Our community is the place where we live, go to school, work and shop, socialize and volunteer to make it a better place. I am not a lifelong resident of the county but have been in the community for over 20 years and am proud to call Panola County my home.

What makes this area such a wonderful place is the people and the welcoming small town atmosphere the residents have created.  It is truly a wonderful place to work hard and at the end of the day or week, enjoy the benefits and peacefulness of a wonderful, quiet home town.
This harmonic balance of hard work and security is not easily maintained however. As I think about what can destroy the balance I immediately think of communities that have been destroyed by drugs, gangs and crime in general.  My family and I have been the victim of vandalism and a home invasion within the last several years. I know many in the community have suffered much deeper wounds than this.

Security and safety is one of the main reasons why people locate and stay in a community. We all want to live in an area where there is freedom to walk our streets, where property values are increasing and more importantly where our families feel safe.

These reasons are why I believe the upcoming election for Panola County Sheriff is the most important election we face. This election will decide who leads our brave men and women in uniform over the next several years and who ultimately protects the future of our community.  I believe my vote for President is important next November but it will not affect me nearly as much as these upcoming local elections. 

For these reasons, The Panolian and the Sardis Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring a Panola County Sheriff Debate on Tuesday, October 27 at 7 p.m. The debate will feature all three candidates and will be held at the North Panola Courthouse in Sardis. Please join me as the candidates will give us one final chance to examine their experience, leadership and vision for our community.

(Dale Hart is President of the Sardis Chamber of Commerce.)