Shelby County voters will head back to the ballot boxes Nov. 2 to vote in the statewide general election. This election will decide the path Alabama takes for the next four years and far beyond, and we urge you to make your voting decisions with care and thought.

With that caveat, here are our endorsements for the candidates we think are best suited for those roles. There were some races in which we didn’t feel it was necessary to endorse a candidate.

For the office of governor, we endorse Robert Bentley, the Republican nominee. Bentley, a Shelby County native, has come back home numerous times during his campaign. Through those appearances, we’ve seen that Bentley has the business savvy to help the thousands of jobless Alabamians find work again, and he has the ethical background to make government more transparent.

We endorse Kay Ivey for the office of lieutenant governor. Her focus on educational issues is doubly important in a time when Alabama is working hard to catch up with the nation’s education leaders. We appreciate Ivey’s goals of investing in pre-K programs, computers in schools, long-distance learning and computer software.

We endorse Luther Strange for the role of attorney general. Strange will work hard to build strong relationships with local law enforcement and district attorneys.

Beth Chapman gets our endorsement for secretary of state. She has done an excellent job during her time in office, and her track record is strong enough for her to deserve another term.

The We Say is the opinion of the Shelby County Reporter editorial board.