With so much activity on the arts, entertainment, sports and cultural fronts over the past few weeks, it’s a sure sign that the fall busy season is upon us, and this weekend will likely be no exception with the upcoming Deep Roots festival. But amid all the fall activity, one event should be at the forefront of every voter’s mind — the upcoming Tuesday, Nov. 3 elections.

For the first time in several years, Baldwin County will for certain have new representation in the Georgia House of Representatives, and this fact should not be of minimal significance to any local voter. This fact, coupled with the potential revamping of Milledgeville City Council, should put the upcoming election as a high priority on everyone’s minds. That’s why this week, among the numerous other activities under way, should be a focal point.

Throughout this week, we will be featuring the responses of local candidates to a series of questions regarding the future of Milledgeville and Baldwin County. We began these features in Tuesday’s edition with the four candidates for the local Georgia House District. The remainder of the week will feature candidates for City Council.

Also this week, The Union-Recorder, along with several other local sponsors, will put on candidate forums for each of the upcoming races. A political rally for City Council District 1 and state House of Representatives candidates will be held at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, following the Deep Roots Festival BBQ Cook-off Sneak Peek downtown just off South Jefferson Street between Oconee Outfitters and the Mary Vinson Memorial Library. The second event for candidates and the community, the American Democracy Project Municipal Candidate Forum will be held Monday at 7 p.m. at the Arts & Sciences Auditorium just off of the fountain in the center of Georgia College & State University’s downtown campus.

Now is the time for local voters to formulate their thoughts and opinions on the candidates and decide who will shape Baldwin County’s future. This area has been hit with layoffs and industry closings over the past several months, but at some point there will be a definite upside for the local economy.

How high of an upside and where Baldwin County goes from here will be determined by those local citizens choose to represent them. The fate of the local community’s future in large part resides in the hands of local voters. We urge local voters to listen and take notice in the coming weeks to what these candidates say and what they stand for. We urge local voters to also remember that the biggest threat to Baldwin County’s future is not another industry closing or series of layoffs — the biggest, most significant threat is an apathetic and inactive voting public. Do your part by staying informed, reading up on the candidates and getting out to vote.