To all politicians: It’s OK to have an opinion, even during an election year.

In fact, letting your constituents know how you feel about a particular issue is an important part of representing them. Do your votes have to match your personal convictions? Not necessarily. It’s OK to vote for something that you know will benefit the state, even if it rubs you the wrong way personally.

When the Confederate flag issue surfaced, we knew it would be difficult for local and state officials to have a strong opinion one way or another. Either opinion — keep it or change it — is bound to upset potential voters.

But our local representation in Jackson has largely decided to have no opinion on the matter.

Rep. Bobby Moak, D-Bogue Chitto, has been quiet on the issue but offered the following recently when asked about his stance on the Confederate emblem being part of the state flag: “House Speaker Philip Gunn espoused changing the flag and asked his party’s delegation to join him. It’s interesting watching candidates endorsed by him, pledge their votes and allegiance on any subject even before knowing what important issues may arise. No matter your individual position, these candidate’s actions highlight a go-along propensity to give their votes away. This is a highly sensitive matter that needs the input of all Mississippians, not just a small group in Jackson. Just like on every other issue, I’m listening.”

Moak didn’t really offer his opinion — he just criticized Republicans.

Rep. Becky Currie, R-Brookhaven, hasn’t really voiced her opinion either. Neither has Sen. Sally Doty, R-Brookhaven.

All three have suggested that voters should decide the issue. That’s a perfectly reasonable position. But it’s also OK to take a stance on the issue, too. You can be in favor of having voters decide and also have an opinion on the matter at the same time.

If we knew how these lawmakers felt about the issue, we might could better understand who they are as individuals. That understanding would help potential voters decide who could best represent them in Jackson.