Tuesday’s runoff for a Fourth District seat on the state Courtof Appeals has not received the media attention of the firstelection two weeks ago, but the contest is no less important forcitizens of this area and the rest of Mississippi.

State Rep. Virginia Carlton led the five-candidate field on Nov.7, capturing 33 percent of the vote. Carlton, of Columbia, hastouted her years in the Legislature, her legal activities duringher military career and a variety of community-relatedassociations.

Ed Patten qualified for Tuesday’s runoff with 28 percent of thevote. Patten, who was unopposed for re-election as judge forLincoln and Copiah counties’ 15th Chancery Court District, haspointed out his 29 years in the legal profession, including 14years as a judge.

Mississippi needs a qualified judge to sit on the appellatecourt bench. We encourage citizens to consider carefully eachcandidate’s abilities and qualifications.

In our view, the best candidate is Patten. Not only do his yearsof experience on the bench make him the stronger candidate, but sodoes his lack of connections to political action groups – who haveopenly endorsed the Carlton campaign.

Tuesday is a very important day and one that gives us anopportunity to insure quality judges rule our courts. We hope youwill take advantage of the opportunity and vote.