After six years on the editorial page, though, I came to see real value in endorsing local candidates, especially the ones that receive little news coverage: judges and school board members. Some real clunkers run for these offices where they can inflict damage to the next generation. Editorial writers are in a unique position to look these candidates in the eye, study their positions and, most importantly, their records. Now, strictly as a voter, I depend on my hometown paper doing a thorough job of this. Publishers, please make the resources available and do this right.