As of Tuesday seven campaigns for Adams County sheriff had gathered $198,900 in financial contributions.

We know quite a few local charities that would clamor for that kind of money.

Where does all the sheriff’s race money go? All over.

Mainly, candidates spend money on print, TV and radio advertisements, billboards and signs and printed materials.

But other dollars went to fund a phone poll to gauge support for a candidate, for T-shirts and for professional photography.

The total spending seems over-the-top, but that’s politics. From the smallest county race to the presidential race our country donates, spends and needs money for elections.

But does money buy votes? Maybe. Maybe not.

As Election Day nears and spending climbs ever-higher voters have a responsibility to look beyond the campaign signs, T-shirts and fliers and find out the truth.

This election is not about voting for the “nice guy” or the family member. It’s about electing the best man for this job — a job that entails leadership, managing a budget, hiring and firing, administration duties and crime fighting.

It’s a shame that our community has raised nearly $200,000 for fliers and billboards while many of our non-profits sit with dry coffers. Requests from families in need are going up daily, many local agencies will tell you.

Where’s the money? Just look at the signs, it’s all around us.