How in the world did I get into this business of telling you how to vote? Every election I get less comfortable with this role. But I’m sticking with it at least for now, knowing that you will take it for what it is: just my opinion. Remember: you’ll only have some of these candidates on your ballot.

T-SPLOST I’m going to vote for this boatload of money. It’s got a lot in it to help traffic flow around here and to fund bike lanes and more frequent bus service, not to mention making some of those dangerous GA-316 crossings safer. What’s the problem? It’s car-heavy? Yes, but it also recognizes alternative transportation more than any other plan we’re likely ever to get and which will be a long time coming. I say this one is a slam dunk. Vote yes.

Sunday Sales Of course. Why not? Vote yes.

The Straw Polls Have fun. They’re non-binding.

ACC District 4 This is a mis-match between a young, new lawyer and an experienced community activist, school board member and working mom. David Ellison, who, if this were not a non-partisan race, would be the Republican candidate, serves on the county hearings board. Other than that, he is a newcomer to politics who is bright, personable and community-minded but is running against Allison Wright, a Democrat who has thoroughly proven her willingness to get out among the people and get involved hands-on with basic issues—most especially public education. Vote for Allison Wright.

ACC District 6 Another mis-match. Ron Winders is a super nice guy who wants to serve his community and is active in environmental matters. He’s no doubt the Republican in this non-partisan race, though he describes himself as a conservative independent. Ron just doesn’t have the depth of involvement in public life that his opponent, Jerry NeSmith, has amassed. Jerry is a Democrat, and he has served on the ACC planning commission for nine years, co-founded the Athens Farmers Market and then fought to keep it from being displaced by the tennis center. Jerry probably has a deeper knowledge of how local government works than any new candidate in recent history. Vote for Jerry NeSmith.

House District 117 This is the Georgia House of Representatives district specially crafted to turn Doug McKillip’s formerly Democratic district into a newly Republican district to accommodate his new Republican status. They didn’t count on Regina Quick, the super-conservative local attorney and Republican activist who is running against Doug. If enough Democrats want to ask for a Republican ballot and join their local Republican friends, they could just make the difference in electing Quick. Either way we’re going to get a Republican, but here’s a chance for Democrats to register a protest against the way the legislature has sliced and diced Athens-Clarke to dilute our vote. Vote for Regina Quick.

House District 118 In the Democratic primary, Rep. Keith Heard is the 20-year incumbent, an African-American insurance executive, one of those legislators who spend more time in Atlanta than they do back home. If Spencer Frye, Heard’s challenger, wins the election, he will be one of the few white Democrats left in the House—a minority within a minority. Frye ran for mayor, manages Athens Area Habitat for Humanity and has a chance at pulling off an upset, which he's working hard to accomplish. Vote for Spencer Frye.

But wait, there’s more. There’s also a Republican primary in House District 118. Carter Kessler and Chris Perlera are contending to see who gets to run against the Democrat in the November general election. They’re both young and political newcomers, though Kessler has been a Ron Paul supporter and a thorn in the side of the local party. Can’t see his getting much support from them. Perlera is the son of Salvadoran immigrant parents. He grew up here from the age of 12 and, went to our public schools and the University of Georgia and works at First American Bank. Vote for Chris Perlera.

Senate District 47 The incumbent, Frank Ginn, is no particular friend of Athens or of local government in general, despite a career in local government, but the alternative, Barrow County Commission Chairman Danny Yearwood, is worse. Vote for Frank Ginn.

U.S. House District 9 Bunch of hard right-wingers. Take your pick.

U.S. House District 10 The payoff for those voting in the Republican primary: if you’re lucky enough to be in the 10th District, you get to vote against Paul Broun. His opponent is a retired U.S. Army intelligence officer. Vote for Stephen Simpson.