And they’re off … That familiar phrase often heard at the start of horse races echoed throughout Natchez on Saturday as the final candidates for June’s city election qualified.

After a slow start out of the gates, we’re happy that most races have at least some competition. We say that not because we necessarily think new blood in office is always better, but because new blood in a campaign makes the eventual officer holder better.

While there are a few unopposed incumbents, several races have more than one candidate running for office.

At the close of qualifying on Saturday, five candidates, including incumbent Larry L. &uot;Butch&uot; Brown, have climbed aboard, put on their riding goggles and are ready for the race. And not to be upstaged by the mayor’s race, five people will race to the finish line in hopes of filling the position of city clerk.

And all but two of six incumbent aldermen have at least one opponent.

Apathy on the part of candidates and voters alike is a real problem lately. And it’s refreshing to see that apathy diminish a bit on the part of candidates. The next hurdle we must clear is getting everyone who can vote to do so.

With qualifying behind them, the candidates have one month to lay out their campaign platforms before the voters make their selections in the city primary on May 2 and two months before the voters make their final choice on June 6.

The starter’s pistol has sounded and the race has begun.

Let’s all hang on tight and enjoy the debate and discussions that each race will likely spark. In June, as the riders cross the finish line and the last vote is counted, hopefully, we’ll all realize that our community is better off because of the differences each candidate brought to the election process.