EDITOR’S NOTE: Voters go to the polls Aug. 6 to cast ballots in party primaries for some 15 countywide offices and other district offices and statewide offices. The Natchez Democrat editorial board is making editorial endorsements in several key races we think to present a crucial choice for voters. The board will not offer endorsements in several races in which we see no clear choice who will make a difference on the issues we think are important to the community and its future.

The field of candidates vying for the chance to represent the Democratic Party on the Nov. 5 general election ballot in the Adams County Sheriff’s race is strong.

Voters must choose between three candidates who are all well qualified for the position, each having significant law enforcement experience.

While the challengers each have their strengths, we think incumbent Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten has done a good job in his first term in office and deserves an opportunity to serve another four years.

Therefore, we support Patten in Tuesday’s party primary.

Patten has accomplished the goals he set out to achieve when he was elected to the office in 2015, including making the office more transparent in its operations, improving morale in the department and in building relationships with surrounding communities’ law enforcement agencies as well as state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Adams County and Natchez have recently experienced a violent crime wave. Patten’s office has made swift arrests in the cases under its purview and has championed, alongside the Natchez Police Department, installing surveillance cameras in key areas to help law enforcement.

Patten’s office also has made inroads in community policing and building relationships with residents, who in turn help alert the office to crime and potential crimes.

For those reasons, we think Patten deserves a chance to advance to Nov. 5 general election, representing the Democratic Party and to compete for a second term in the office in order to build on the improvements he has already achieved.