Primary elections are quickly approaching — one important date just passed with last Friday’s filing deadline for all who plan to run for county and state offices.

Party primaries for these offices will be March 13. If a runoff election is needed, it will be April 24, and then the general election will be Nov. 6.

Meanwhile, municipal elections — for city councils, mayors and other elected city positions — will be Aug. 28.

This will be a busy year, with campaign signs everywhere. Our citizens will be inundated with political innuendo, but it’s important that voters look past the slick slogans and at what each candidate truly embodies.

This is a crucial time for Shelby County. This county is a state leader and, in many ways, a national leader. If that trend is to continue, we must pick the strongest candidates to lead our cities and our county.

If you’re not already registered to vote, please do so immediately. All those who want to vote must be registered at least 10 days prior to the election date.

Also, if you’re an absentee voter, make plans to accomplish that now. Absentee balloting starts 42 days prior to the election date.

For the March 13 Republican primary, voters have 17 candidates to choose from. Out of 12 county commission, probate judge and board of education races, five incumbents have challengers. However, there are no Democratic candidates for any of those races, so voters should choose carefully. As Shelby County GOP chairman Freddy Ard said, “Our elected officials will be effectively decided on March 13.”

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