You start thinking that it is immaterial who holds a ministerial job like the circuit-county clerk until someone poorly prepared for the task screws up everything, including our elections. Pulaski County voters learned that bitter lesson a few years ago and picked someone with demonstrated competence.
Now we must make that decision again in the Democratic primary. Larry Crane and Steve Walden present good credentials and sound knowledge.
You may not go wrong whichever you elect, but we recommend Larry Crane because he has a long history of administrative experience and competence. He has been the chief deputy state auditor, an assistant attorney general under four attorneys general and director of the state Assessment Coordination Division. It would be hard to find someone with a better grasp of property and election laws, the judiciary and the whole sweep of county and state government. That is exactly what the job needs.