Yep, the final conclusion of all the highly contested races on the June 5 ballot is still something like nine weeks away, but if the number of phone calls and emails I’ve been getting are an accurate indicator, some of the contenders and their issues are already bubbling hot and generating steam.

Moller was a good friend and mentor, a sharp, experienced veteran newsman from both the weekly and the daily side of the business who’d seen the rise and fall of many goods, bads and uglies over the course of his career.

He was a tough-skinned knight of the keyboard who wouldn’t back down just because somebody was shouting angrily on the other end of the line.

He held his ground as the professional he was, never raising his voice or letting a caller know they were getting to him.

I always respected him for that, and I hope I can follow in his mighty big footsteps.

I can easily understand how the candidates and their supporters become passionate about the upcoming election. I know they’re true believers who maintain their cause is just.

Having the election go their way is just about the most important thing on the planet at this moment. I understand.

Here at the Times we don’t endorse candidates or measures up for election. You won’t see a slate of candidates the newspaper is supporting or an editorial headline that reads, “The Times recommends … ” We stay out of that fray and prefer to let the voters decide without stomping our way into the middle of their decisions.

Having said that, the Times still has an obligation to fairly report the news to our readers.

I hope those who have gotten to know me have learned something about my dedication to fairness.

I never want to misrepresent a person’s words or actions, and if I do, I’m willing to admit my error and do whatever I can do to correct it.

I understand and believe in the newspaper’s role in our community, and I would never deliberately take a cheap shot that might sully either my reputation or the newspaper’s.

Having said that, if my guess is correct, this year’s election cycle is going to be a doozy, and I’ll probably get lots of mud slung at me as I do my job as the editor of the newspaper.

The race for two seats on the Lassen County Board of Supervisors district 1 and district 2 seats pits a pair of seasoned incumbents against a pair of well-known and vocal challengers who have very different ideas about how the county should be governed.

In the district 4 seat vacated by Brian Dahle as he runs for the state assembly, three candidates have thrown their hats in the ring.

And if that’s not enough conflict, District 5 Supervisor Jack Hanson finds himself in the middle of a very nasty recall campaign.

Am I going to make all these folks with their divergent opinions and agendas and campaigns happy with everything I write? Probably not. This is my first election season as editor.

I promise to do my best to serve our community and its readers during these controversial times and my first election sitting in the editor’s seat. If you have a comment, question or concern, you can call me at 257-5321 or drop me an email at swilliams@lassennews.com.