Election time is under way in Vicksburg.

The county elections occupied city voters’ attention in 2015, and the presidential, congressional and state judicial elections were in the forefront not more then a few months ago. Now, it’s the city’s turn.

Qualifying for the offices of mayor and South and North Ward alderman began Tuesday and will continue through the middle of March with incumbents and challengers filing their papers with the City Clerk’s office in City Hall and then campaigning during the next six months of primaries, runoffs and the general election leading to the swearing in of a new board in July. That means voters will be receiving campaign literature at their homes, meeting candidates face-to-face either while they are out shopping or having a family outing or at their homes as candidates go door-to-door as they get out and meet their potential constituents.

Unlike their predecessors, the present Board of Mayor and Aldermen have done a good job running the city and keeping it financially solvent, but there is always room for improvement, and it could be a challenger for mayor or one of the alderman seats may have a better idea to improve the city. But in the group of challenger will also be a few disgruntled candidates who may be running, not because they want to help the city, but mainly to get someone out of office because of some controversy they may have had in the past. And that means voters will have to do a good job of listening to the candidates when they see them and be able to make informed decisions on whom to vote for. Vicksburg has come along way since the present board took office in July 2013, but it still has a long way to go, and its future lies in the hands of the voters. Regardless if someone supports the members of the present board or believes new blood is needed, they need to be able make informed, intelligent decisions and they need to get out and vote.