Chilton County voters will make important decisions about the county’s future when they go to the polls on March 1, and we urge them to take these decisions seriously.

Included on the Republican Primary Election ballot will be candidates for Chilton County Commission, district court judge and district attorney for the 19th Judicial Circuit. Winners from March 1 will earn their party’s nomination and appear on the General Election ballot in November, but in a conservative county, there is perhaps more interest in the Primary than the General Election.

It was good to see about 150 people in attendance at a political forum on Feb. 16 sponsored by the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce and hosted by Senior Connection. They got to hear from each of the Republican candidates for commission, and their impressions from the forum will no doubt help form their decisions.

While 150 is a large crowd, it’s a small fraction of the 44,000 that live in the county. We hope the voters among the population take the time to learn about their local candidates before March 1.

No doubt many residents know candidates personally and already have their minds made up. But it’s always a good idea to seek as much information about candidates as possible.

When the candidates show up at your door, or you hear from them in a public setting, don’t hesitate to ask questions about where they stand on issues that are important to you and the county. Consider their backgrounds and qualifications.

The Clanton Advertiser will publish an “Election Guide” in the Feb. 28 edition of the newspaper, and we hope you’ll look that over as well.

When it comes to decisions that will shape the future of our county, one can never have too much information.