It’s election season. Candidate signs are popping up on every street corner. As I drove through Madisonville Friday morning people were already waiting at the Election Commission as the first day of early voting got under way. By the end of the day 250 people had voted. 

Election Administrator Randall Moser estimates 3,000 people will vote during early voting, which runs through Aug. 2. That leaves at least 26,000 people to vote on Election Day. Of course, we know that many people won’t vote. We would be lucky to see a 50 percent turnout.

Poll hours during early voting are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday and 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Early voting will be at the Election Commission office on Main Street in Madisonville.

On Election Day, Aug. 7, the polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

I don’t care which party you vote for, but I do hope you will make an informed vote. Take time to get to know the candidates before stepping into the voting booth. During the past week we ran profiles of the trustee, County Commission, property assessor and 1st District School Board candidates. The 2nd District candidates are in today’s paper. Next week we will run profiles of the 3rd District School Board candidates and the two candidates for 10th Judicial District judge.

The profiles also will be available on our Web site, www.advocateanddemocrat.com. Click on the news menu and the Election 2008 button.

Prior to Election Day we will be running the School Board candidates responses to several questions we have given them. 

I also want to thank all the candidates who attended our Candidate Fair Thursday night at the Cora Veal Center. 

Congratulations to our award-winning staff

I have the opportunity to spend each working day with a talented group of people. And, once again our newspaper peers have judged our work to be among the best in the state. The Advocate & Democrat brought home nine awards in the annual Tennessee Press Association contest. 

Reporter Melissa Kinton won first place in the news photography category for a photo she took of police rescuing an elderly lady whose car had overturned in Sweetwater Creek.

Melissa and Reporter Tommy Millsaps earned second place in the Public Service category for their series of articles on homelessness.

Melissa received a third-place award for investigative reporting for her coverage of the search for a new director of schools.

Our Skyway News placed third in the special sections category.

Other awards included: fourth place for education reporting, sports writing, community lifestyles, makeup and appearance and fifth place for headlines.

Congratulations on a job well done!

mia.rhodarmer@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101.