On Nov. 8, countywide elections will choose a new chancery clerk and a new circuit clerk. Unlike most elected officials, the chancery clerk and circuit clerk operate under a fee-based system. A large part of their salaries comes from the fees they collect.

Their offices are run like a business; both collect fees set by the state and the courts, and both take out of those fees the expenses incurred to run their offices. This system has some loopholes which provide opportunities for tremendous abuse of public money.

I encourage each voter to carefully look at all the races and all the candidates with particular attention to the chancery and circuit clerk offices. Please choose candidates for these offices who have the integrity to manage your money without abusing the system. There is no runoff in either of these races. Your vote can make a difference.

Mac Montgomery

Vicksburg