Election yard signs pose a mystery of sorts.

They provide just enough information about a candidate to make you wonder, but not enough to help you decide how to cast your vote.

In the South, our campaign signs frequently carry nicknames. Mayor Phillip West found success long ago by including his college nickname — “Bucket” — on his signs.

This weekend I noticed a sign in a nearby county proudly begging for votes for “Two Bit.”

And I’m currently fascinated with the typefaces and colors candidates in Adams County have chosen for their own signs.

Justice Court Judge Charlie Vess seems to be almost space age with his narrow signs and modern-looking typeface.

Circuit Clerk candidate Wilbur Johnson’s purple makes me stop and take note.

Interesting as they are, the signs really don’t tell us that much about the men and women vying for our time, eyes and votes.

That’s where your handy local newspaper comes in.

In the coming weeks we’ll be previewing races, interviewing candidates and publishing a special edition with all the biographical information you need on each candidate.

Closer to election date our editorial board will make a few endorsements based on in-depth interviews of the candidates.

The endorsements will be our opinion, but we want to hear yours as well.

This page, the Opinion page, is yours. With the exception of the box in the left hand corner containing the staff editorial and a few columns from our employees, this page contains your opinions.

It’s your forum for thought, debate and discussion. And in the coming weeks, it can become your political platform.

We will be accepting letters to the editor in favor of specific candidates as long as everyone plays nicely.

If you think one candidate is better qualified for a job than the others, tell us so.

But make sure your letters contain only provable facts or your own personal opinion. We won’t become a forum for mudslinging, and it’s probably best to focus on the candidate you favor, not on the negatives of his opponent.

Write to us about the issues that need to be addressed. What’s the most important issue in the county supervisors race? Jobs? Industry? A public swimming pool?

You tell us, and we’ll help you tell the world.

We won’t accept letters from the candidates themselves, and we won’t publish personal attacks.

Nothing constructive will come of criticism on personal traits, so avoid that as well.

And The Democrat will, as always, reserve the right to edit the letters that include unproven “facts” and attacks. Letters should be less than 500 words and we may edit for space or style. We will not edit out your opinion or change any of your points.

All letters related to the election must be received by July 25. No letters will be published on the week of the primary election.

You can e-mail letters to letters@natchezdemocrat.com or mail them to P.O. Box 1447, Natchez, MS 39121, or drop them by at 503 N. Canal St.

Julie Finley is the managing editor of The Natchez Democrat. She can be reached at 601-445-3551 or julie.finley@natchezdemocratcom.