The City of Atmore is on the cusp of great changes. With continued expansion at Wind Creek and Rivercane, there is potential that our city will be a different community in just a few years.

At the same time, we know that the character of our community — one, as our welcome sign says, of “old friends and new beginnings” — should never change.

On Tuesday, voters will go to the polls to elect new council members and a new mayor, leaders who will continue to forge a new path for our city as we exit tough economic times and, hopefully, welcome new industries and businesses.

As we say goodbye to the steady leadership of Mayor Howard Shell, we hope that voters will take a close and careful look at the slate of candidates and choose those who will be the best leaders for our community.

Our biggest endorsement, as always, is simply that people vote.

This is, interestingly, the first of many times we will vote this fall. There is a statewide referendum in September, the municipal runoff in October and the general election in November. That’s a lot of issues and a lot of candidates, and we hope voters have been paying attention.

Please take the time to go to the polls. Take these last few days and get to know the candidates; seek out stories about them on our Web site; call them and talk to them; answer the door when they knock.

Our future depends on your vote.