Four of the five Adams County supervisor positions are up for grabs in Tuesday’s Democrat primary election. One is unopposed.

Most votes supervisors cast each year are not terribly important in the grand scheme of things — paying bills, allocating funds and other general business affairs of the county.

But on rare occasions, the five board members are required to stand up for what is right and represent the interests of the public regardless of outside pressure or political popularity.

A series of votes made on March 11, 2014, made the difference for us in choosing which candidates should be entrusted with the responsibility of leading the county.

The questionable votes involved discussing the state of then publicly owned Natchez Regional Medical Center behind closed doors. Later that year the hospital was sold out of bankruptcy and residents are still unclear who is to blame for the hospital’s murky financial mess.

In a split vote, the supervisors voted to discuss the matter out of the public’s eye and then made the ultimate decision to continue employing a consulting firm that had already misled the county and the public twice before in his earlier attempts to sell the hospital.

At the very moment supervisors had the ability to stand up for what was right and publicly demand answers on behalf of the voters who elected them.

Instead incumbent District 3 Supervisor Angela Hutchins and District 5 Supervisor Calvin Butler shirked that responsibility and thus failed taxpayers when their leadership was most needed.

Only one incumbent who has opposition Tuesday voted against the decisions that day, showing he was capable of learning and saying, “No,” to something that made no sense.

District 1 Supervisor Mike Lazarus voted against going into executive session that day and against hiring the consultant to work through the hospital’s bankruptcy.

The prior year, Lazarus had voted to hire the firm, but months later had learned his lesson. Lazarus deserves to be reelected for his ability to learn from his mistakes and for representing the county reasonably well in his first two terms. Lazarus needs to calm down, talk more slowly and listen to others before speaking to truly realize his own leadership potential.

In District 3, challenger Wilbert Whittley earns our support. Whittley’s background as a coach and sports official and his love for recreation may help the county finally make a new recreation complex a reality.

In District 4, a retiring supervisor leaves the door wide open for challengers. Of those in the running, Natchez Alderman James “Rickey” Gray seems the most capable and earns our support. Gray’s knowledge of city government potentially could help build a better bridge between the city and county leadership teams, something that is woefully needed.

In District 5, we support the return of former supervisor S.E. “Spanky” Felter. His common sense approach to problems and hawk-like attention to the county’s spending makes him a good selection.

County supervisors not only hold great power, but also require solid and fearless leadership.

We feel these candidates provide that leadership.