Put Third District race high on your priority list

When folks speak of this year’s election, the first thing that comes to many minds, is the presidential race between John McCain and Barack Obama.

But with all due respect for the future leader on Pennsylvania Avenue, the most important race on the ballot Nov. 4 might very well be for the Third Congressional District. The president probably won’t spend a lot of time in the Third District attempting to find new measures to lure industry, improve the job market and secure federal funds that will go toward the betterment of life in east Alabama. That’s why we have a representative of our own on Capitol Hill.

We encourage all registered voters to educate themselves on the district’s candidates, Republican incumbent Mike Rogers of Anniston and Democratic challenger Josh Segall of Montgomery. We encourage the voters to get a better understanding of the issues both candidates bring to the table, what their priorities are, how they intend to best serve this country and represent the Third District.

Both Rogers and Segall have visited with editors and management at the Opelika-Auburn News, expressing their views on a variety of topics from Homeland Security, breaking the dependence on foreign oil, where federal funds are most needed in the district, where their campaign finances are coming from, the war in Iraq, campaign advertising and improving the employment situation for residents in East Alabama.

After both visits, we are confident that either candidate would represent this area in Washington well over the next two years. The Opelika-Auburn News will offer an endorsement in this race, and other races, in days leading up to the General Election.

But now is the time for the voters to get a better understanding of the candidates. Read newspaper articles about them. Visit their Web sites, which offer news releases practically each day — either speaking out about their candidate, or taking a swipe at the other.

Rogers’ site is http://www.mikerogersforcongress.com/

Segall’s can be viewed at http://www.segall2008.com/main.php

Don’t make a judgment call based on a single advertisement, single issue or single story you read. Take the sum of all parts and go from there.

Indeed, the president’s race is important, but the winner of this race is your advocate in Washington.