L’OBSERVATEUR’s editorial and advertising staff contacted dozens of candidates and secured interviews from 21 of them to put together our special election tab, which published in Wednesday’s newspaper.

Many have found it a useful tool in identifying where candidates stand on certain issues, as well as determining their general platforms and inspirations.

That is certainly helpful information with Election Day approaching Nov. 4 and early voting concluding Tuesday.

Plenty of interviewing has already taken place and will continue to as ballot day approaches.

When I’m speaking with political candidates — incumbents or challengers — I tend to look for something concrete.

I don’t want to know that you’ll work with your colleagues or listen to your constituents. To me, that’s a given. It reminds me of an old runner in comedian Chris Rock’s routine when he would get disgusted about hearing fathers say, “I take care of my kids.”

Rock responds, with liberal use of profanity, that such an act is no big deal because you are SUPPOSED to do such.

With this, political candidates are like fathers, don’t brag to us that you will work respectively with your colleagues or return emails from constituents, because that should be given, not the main part of your action plan.

Give us specifics.

Tell us what you don’t like.

You get extra credit for telling me, personally, what action you plan to take in an effort make things better.

However, what I’m most interested in hearing from candidates will come months from now when the lucky ones are candidates no longer, but our elected officials.

Because as we all know, politics in Louisiana, especially the River Parishes, has a funny way of making regional and sometimes national news, and never when the news-making item is actually “funny.”

When that happens, many reporters, including some from this very newspaper, will speak to you in person or reach you by phone with a simple question, asking for your thoughts about the issue of the moment.

Please, future elected official, don’t be the guy (or gal) who says, “no comment.”

Don’t claim, “ongoing litigation” and “I’ve been advised by my attorney” as a reason to shirk on your responsibility to be the people’s elected person of representation.

Things are going to get tough. The questions will not always be easy, but the will to stand up and face the realities while representing your neighbors should never waver for those in public office.

If it has, it’s time for you to quit, or get voted out.

Many have recently grown frustrated by a string of “no comments” and unreturned phone calls that have followed major stories and votes in the River Parishes.

Whether it’s a school district sex scandal, Ebola or ameba outbreak, guilty pleas in the court of law or controversial votes, some of our elected officials have taken the easy way out by happily accepting their taxpayer salary while conveniently sending the public to voicemail when it came time to answer the phone call.

You knew it going in, and sure as heck should know it now, this job — whether it is as judge or justice of the peace — is going to come with some rough days when it’s time to take a stand.

Unfortunately for us voters, it’s impossible to know which of these new political challengers or those public officials lucky enough to have avoided their first scandal will answer the tough questions when things invariably get sticky.

Until then, let the candidates run free with their promises of future work.

We’ll be here recording what they say today and eagerly anticipating what they may have to say tomorrow.

Stephen Hemelt is general manager and editor of L’OBSERVATEUR. He can be reached at 985-652-9545 or stephen.hemelt@lobservateur.com.