In a marathon forum last Wednesday night at the Piankatank Ruritan Club building, Mathews candidates received one last chance to let county voters know where they stand on the issues, as well as take part in one final bit of public mudslinging.

A total of 20 candidates running for commissioner of the revenue, board of supervisors, sheriff, commonwealth’s attorney, treasurer and school board all took part in the freewheeling campaign event, with each given 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the capacity crowd and make any other statement they wished.

As politicians are often wont to do, most of the candidates took full advantage of the allotted time, and, following a question-and-answer period, audience members and candidates walked away a little bleary eyed at around 11 p.m., four hours after the program began.

Perhaps due to the length of the program, or possibly because it was the last opportunity to make a public statement before the Nov. 8 election, some of the can...