Editor, Gazette-Journal:

By now, almost all of the residents of Gloucester and Mathews counties are aware of the four-man Republican race for the 98th House of Delegates seat that is being vacated by the retiring Harvey Morgan.

As voters, we must educate ourselves on each candidate. What experiences, knowledge, leadership skills and abilities does each candidate possess? What are his strongest character traits? Are you choosing a candidate because you are friends with him or his family, or because he is the most qualified to represent the Middle Peninsula?

I warn all voters to be wary of candidates who call in favors to have the signs of the competition removed, while theirs stand unaffected. If a candidate cannot stand on his own skills, merit and message to voters and must resort to low and dirty tactics prior to a primary, we must ask ourselves if this candidate truly deserves our vote.

Elections have consequences. It does matter who we put in office, whether it is at the ...