I want to begin this column by first saying I have no dog in this fight. I am not a resident of District 108 and therefore have no say in the election on Tuesday.

I do, however, carry the responsibility of the press to inform the public on governmental matters.

Recently, the campaign has heated up, particularly between the two right-leaning candidates. Now, how far right these individuals actually lean is up for debate.

Two candidates claim to be members of the Republican Party.

But remember, special election candidates do not run under a party name, thereby bypassing the qualification process through a county political party.

So whether a candidate is a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or Republican-aligned Libertarian for convenience sake really can’t be verified to a certain degree.

What constituents can do though is talk.

We can talk to our potential representatives and get them to clarify where they stand; get them to set aside perfectly planned speeches and talk plainly and openly.

Conversely, politicians have the responsibility to truthfully inform the public, not mislead them through campaign tactics.

So when a candidate accuses another of being disloyal to the country, are they not also misleading voters by failing to present the full information to sway the vote in their favor?

If a candidate suddenly draws parallels between them and a presidential candidate they openly did not support, is that not misleading?

I think both of these instances are examples of the candidates doing a disservice to the constituency.

Whether the candidates are driven by the nature of competition, a personal agenda or otherwise, it should not be done at the expense of the people in District 108.

There are four days left until this election. That is enough time for candidates to talk to people about real issues.

For those interested in delving into campaign contributions, I encourage you to visit the Mississippi Secretary of State’s website where each candidate has submitted an itemized list of contributions and disbursements.