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Doctor-patient confidentiality? What about doctor-editor confidentiality?

What happens when an editor has a physical, and the physician confides that he soon will announce that he is running for office? The patient editor respects a secret, and the news breaks on a blog forum instead of the newspaper.

Priest-parishioner confidentiality? What about priest-editor confidentiality?

A priest can’t divulge what he hears during a confession, but what happens when a priest asks an editor if he is taking a job with the county? Will an editor go to, well … the deep, deep South if he divulges that the priest asked one evening last week about the rumor that he heard that morning on the radio? (Note to my pastor: Change the station. Note to readers: I will not change jobs.)

Wow! Everywhere I go these days, it seems the talk is the same. Politics. … Government. … Public affairs. …

Must be an election year, and elections must be near.

I have elected to seek the talk. That’s why I attended an Anderson City Council candidate forum last Tuesday. That’s why I’ve been a regular lately at Anderson County Council meetings.

Just wait until filing for most races ends, just before April Fools’ Day. Then the serious noise will begin.

Hear here. The Anderson Independent-Mail will contribute to the din. We’re planning candidate forums. A few, in fact, are coming this week. We’ll begin with city council candidates (see details in today’s Local section).

We are pleased to partner again with WRIX (103.1 FM), which will broadcast the forums live. Morning show host George Ducworth and I will alternate asking questions. We plan to pass out index cards on which citizens can suggest questions. If you can’t attend, send me questions via e-mail.

We also are pleased to partner again with Anderson University, which graciously makes auditoriums available. We must note that AU is not endorsing any candidates.

Please take advantage of these opportunities to attend, listen, watch live or archived IndependentMail.com Webcasts or read this paper and/or our Web site. Of all the problems in America, apathy might be the biggest. Don’t just vote. Educate yourself on the races.

Visit our 2008 Voter Guide on IndependentMail.com. You’ll see unfiltered views from candidates who take advantage of our tools. So far, most city council candidates have replied to questionnaires, and on your behalf, we appreciate the time and effort that they put into their responses.

Between now and the April 8 city election, we plan stories on key issues. After April 8, the pace will pick up, building toward the June 10 primary. County council races, as always, should be interesting. The competition for sheriff, solicitor and various state offices will be intense.

As for a particular state office, what’s up, Doc? Would you mind if I check your blood pressure?