Editor&8217;s note: One of our most basic responsibilities as a citizen is to cast an informed vote; in doing so, we help perpetuate the ideal Abraham Lincoln put forth in his Gettysburg Address:

&8220;… that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.&8221; The endorsements below for the June 6 primary reflect our best effort to help you make an informed decision in the voting booth. No endorsements for local office have been made and no endorsements have been made in races where candidates are unopposed. These endorsements are not meant to sway the election one direction or another but to simply serve as a point of reference for your own decision. If in reading through what follows you see these recommendations as fodder for the birdcage, we hope you offer a rebuttal at the ballot box.

Tim Prince

Editor & Publisher, President

Governor

Bob Riley (R): Bob Riley has done more to move Alabama forward than any of our state&8217;s recently elected governors; he has the judgment and talent to become one of the most effective governors in the state&8217;s history and we endorse Governor Riley for Governor.

Lucy Baxley (D): Lucy Baxley, while having been short on substance politically to date, is a talented person and is free of any baggage relating to political scandal making her the obvious candidate on the democratic slate.

Lieutenant Governor

Luther Strange (R): Luther Strange is the most capable candidate for Lieutenant Governor; Strange has a track record of business acumen and political success; both will serve him and our state well in the Lieutenant Governor&8217;s office.

U.S. Rep., 6th District

Spencer Bachus (R): Spencer Bachus, running unopposed for re-election, has done an admirable job serving the citizens of Shelby County. While he needs no formal endorsement in the June 6 primary, we take this opportunity to applaud his efforts on our behalf.

Attorney General

Troy King (R): Troy King has been aggressive in prosecuting crime in our state and has earned our endorsement and the opportunity to serve as Attorney General for another term.

We make no endorsement for the democratic primary for Attorney General.

Supreme Court Chief Justice?

Drayton Nabers, Jr. (R): Chief Justice Drayton Nabers is far and away the most qualified candidate for Supreme Court Chief Justice; he has both experience in the job and a track record of sound judicial logic. Alabama is fortunate to have someone of Justice Nabers caliber as Chief Justice and would do well to keep him as such.

Supreme Court Justice, Place 1

Champ Lyons, Jr. (R): Champ Lyons, Jr. receives our endorsement for Supreme Court Justice, Place 1 though his opponent, Ben Hand, is also a capable candidate.

Supreme Court Justice, Place 2

Tom Woodall (R): Tom Woodall has been an effective member of the Alabama Supreme Court and receives our endorsement to continue is excellent work as Supreme Court Justice, Place 2.

Supreme Court Justice, Place 3

Lyn Stuart (R): Lyn Stuart has been a hard worker on Alabama&8217;s Supreme Court and has proven her value to the court.

Stuart is a talented justice and receives our endorsement for Supreme Court Justice, Place 3.

Supreme Court Justice, Place 4

Glenn Murdock (R): Glenn Murdock is a talented jurist and has served with distinction on the Civic Court of Appeals.

Murdock receives our endorsement for Supreme Court Justice, Place 4.

Court of Civil Appeals, Place 1

Terry Moore (R): Terry Moore would be new to the judiciary but experience in private practice will give him the tools needed to perform well in the office. We endorse Moore for Court of Civil Appeals Judge, Place 1.

Court of Civil Appeals, Place 2

Both candidates

for Court of Civil Appeals, Place 2 are unopposed in the primary elections.

Court of Civil Appeals, Place 3

Jim McFerrin (D): Jim McFerrin is the only democrat running for Court of Civil Appeals Judge, Place 3 winning our endorsement by default.

Bill Shashy (R): Bill Shashy has a sound track record of service on the 15th Judicial Circuit and receives our endorsement for Court of Civil Appeals Judge, Place 3.

Court of Criminal Appeals, Places 1 and 2

We make no endorsement for the democratic or republican primary for Court of Criminal Appeals, places 1 or 2.

Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3

Sam Welch (R): Sam Welch has impeccable credentials and a track record of sound judicial judgments as the only judge in the 35th judicial circuit.

Welch does not shy away from his concerns that Supreme Court Justice Tom Parker&8217;s interpretation of the role of the judiciary is wrongheaded; we concur enthusiastically.

Secretary of State

Beth Chapman (R): Beth Chapman is far and away the most capable person running for Secretary of State.

Chapman has done well as State Auditor and will continue doing so as Secretary of State.

We endorse neither candidate running for Secretary of State on the democratic ticket.

State Treasurer

Kay Ivey (R): Kay Ivey has done a good job as State Treasurer, has worked to improve the state&8217;s higher education savings plans and overseen a swelling state treasury.

Ivey receives our endorsement for State Treasurer.

We make no endorsement for the democratic primary for State Treasurer.

State Auditor

Wes Allen (R): Wes Allen is young and lacks years of political experience; however, he brings experience of organizing and managing large budgets, enthusiasm and sincere interest in moving our state forward. Allen receives our endorsement for State Auditor.

We make no endorsement for the democratic primary for State Auditor.

Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries

Ron Sparks (D): Ron Sparks has performed well as Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries and has earned the opportunity to continue to serve in that capacity and receives our endorsement.

Sparks has not backed away from his convictions even when doing so would have been the politically expedient thing to do.

Public Service Commissioner

We make no endorsement for the democratic or republican primary for Public Service Commissioner, places 1 or 2.

State Board of Education

We make no endorsement for the democratic or republican primaries for State Board of Education