What will be – for all intents and purposes – Covington County’s 2012 general election will be only two weeks away when the Andalusia Civitan Club and LBW Campus Civitan host a political forum this Tuesday.

We call this primary the “general election” because there are only Republican candidates for office in Covington County this year. The candidates who emerge the victors in this primary contest will not be contested on the November general election ballot. So it’s easy for us to think “we’ve got time.” In most years, we’d be months and months away from a final election decision. This year, we need to be paying attention now. In two weeks, we’ll be choosing a commission chairman, four commissioners, a county school board member, a circuit clerk and a probate judge. In this very short political season, it is important that we question these candidates and consider where they propose to take us before voting.

For instance, approximately three years ago, the current commission, in a 3-2 vote, boldly voted to move to a unit system of road management in an effort to better control its finances. There are those seeking office now who would vote to move back to the district system, even though that move would require legislative action.

That’s just one of the issues that should be on our collective radar screen. We are certain you have others.

Civitan has invited both candidates and members of the community to submit questions in advance by email to gbwcpa@andycable.com, and in writing on Tuesday night. Those questions will be screened by a moderator, and appropriate questions will be asked of each candidate.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. in the student center of LBWCC. We encourage voters to submit questions and to attend. Our future depends upon us making good choices now.