The qualifying is over and the campaigning will begin. With Tuesday’s official end to qualifying for upcoming municipal elections, voters in Troy, Brundidge, Banks and Goshen have a full slate of candidates.

With municipal elections set for Aug. 28, voters have some six weeks to get to know the candidates: their personalities, their stands, their strengths and weaknesses.

And we encourage you to do just that.

Leading a municipal government is no easy task. It takes dedication, compassion, commitment and the willingness to make difficult decisions. Whether the municipality is Troy, with more than $50 million in its annual budget, or Banks, where town officials work part-time, the challenges are the same: ensuring the municipality meets the needs of its constituents to the best of its abilities. And, to make sure the government leaders are acting as good stewards of the public trust.

We encourage you to get to know your candidates, whether mayoral or council positions. Ask them questions. Read their interviews and answers in upcoming stories in The Messenger. Think about what you seek in a civic leader and use those objectives as your measuring stick when you cast your ballot.

Municipal elections are an important opportunity to shape the future of our hometowns.

Be informed and vote.