Friday, Apr. 25, 2008

Get Thee to a Computer Before Voting

Lyn Pry

All our news and features just couldn’t be contained by our limited paper and ink options. That means you’ll have to visit our online version to view "all the news that’s fit to print."

Of course, each week there are more pictures to look at for some of our stories – like the recent North Texas Wine Opener with 12 photos online – and all those statistics (plus team and player photos) that can’t fit in the printed Sports Section. Each week, some stories also get rolled over for lack of space to the next issue, if there isn’t a deadline affected.

Well, this is our last issue prior to the start of early voting for all those local candidates running for various elected offices, and we wanted to provide as much fair and impartial information as possible for voters to read.

The five questions The Messenger asked the Flower Mound Town Council candidates running for the Place 2 and 4 seats are on the front page; the answers are online at: www.flowermoundmessenger.com. As residents of Flower Mound, I challenge readers to think how you might answer them – they are not simple "yes" or "no" questions. After you decide on your opinion for each question, go online and read how each candidate responded; see who matches your viewpoint.

If you have no idea what the questions are asking, you definitely need to get to a computer and read what the candidates have to say. If you are a new resident (or haven’t read The Messenger before), a short profile on the various candidates in Highland Village and Flower Mound we’ve covered in past issues is also available online.

Frankly, I don’t have the patience to run for an elected office. I know myself well enough to know that by the third time someone asked me the same question, my response probably wouldn’t win any friends ... or votes.

I can tell you all that not one of the candidates whined, lost their patience, or balked at the questions I sent them. For that alone, they deserve our respect for their offer of public service.