When Adams County residents go the polls Nov. 7, voters in only one district will have a contested local race on their ballots. The position of election commissioner for District 2 is up for grabs with two candidates, James Eddie Freeman and Larry E. Gardner, running for election.

The candidates are running for the position being vacated by Jeanne Sanguinetti, who is not running for reelection.

Election commissioners are responsible for maintaining the voters, rolls and doing other activities pertaining to elections, including working with poll workers and implementing changes in election law.

Both candidates have experience in the political process.

Gardner was elected as District 2 elections commissioner in 1988 and served one term.

He has a background in the operation of voting machines, has been a municipal election commissioner since 1993 and has been employed with the Secretary of State’s Office.

Gardner said he is running again because of &uot;the need to have a good person in that office&uot; to make sure the voter rolls are maintained.

Gardner said he thinks the worst scenario is to have an eligible voter to the polls only to find pollworkers cannot find his or her name on the list. And by the same token, people not eligible to vote should not be listed on the rolls.

&uot;I have a sincere desire to maintain good voters, rolls for everybody who has the right to vote in Adams County,&uot; Gardner said.

During the 1980s, many deceased people were still &uot;voting&uot; in elections, Gardner said, adding the rolls are cleaner now.

While serving District 2 from 1988-1992, Gardner said he learned some people who had not resided locally for years were still casting absentee ballots in Adams County.

Those are things Gardner wants to prevent if elected. &uot;We have not had fair and honest elections in the past&uot; because &uot;many people had been using poorly maintained voters, rolls to their advantage.&uot;

When that happens, the political process is negatively affected.

Elections &uot;should be done fairly and legally so you actually have the will of the people,&uot; Gardner said, as opposed to having the will of just a few of the people.

Gardner thinks his voting record stands for itself in how he would value being election commissioner.

&uot;I think one real issue is I have been an active voter all my life,&uot; he said. &uot;I’ve voted in every election the law allowed me to vote in.&uot;

Candidate James E. &uot;Eddie&uot; Freeman brings experience as a lobbyist for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers to his campaign for election commissioner.

&uot;I believe that the office of election commissioner should be an office of trust,&uot; Freeman said. An election commissioner &uot;should treat his job as an employee, rather than as an employer.&uot;

Freeman said he thinks he is a good candidate because he is not looking to achieve a personal agenda by running.

&uot;I’m an honest person,&uot; he said. &uot;I’m open and forthright, and I have no axes to grind by coming in and being a candidate.&uot;

Like Gardner, Freeman said he thinks it is important to keep the list of eligible voters updated. &uot;(My) only ambition is to do the best job I can in the role of election commissioner for the people of Adams County,&uot; Freeman said.

Freeman also said thinks an election commissioner’s job is the backbone of the democratic process and the beginning structure to the electoral process — something that should be important to citizens.

&uot;The right to vote in the U.S. is a very precious thing, so many people take for granted,&uot; he said.

Freeman said he first considered running for the position after members of the Democrat Committee approached him about it. He considers his campaign a way to give options to voters.

Freeman also said he is disappointed that the races for election commissioner in other districts are all unopposed.