Last week I attended the Round Rock ISD school board candidate forum hosted by the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce. I glanced over the audience and noticed City Council members, the county commissioner, local business owners and parents among those in attendance. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and this group was almost a complete cross-section of Round Rock.

I've sat in these meetings for the past six-plus years that I've worked for Community Impact Newspaper as the "ears" for the average Joe. This particular meeting was a little different. While I was still tasked with the same journalistic responsibility, for the first time I was also listening as a parent. My son started kindergarten in RRISD this year, and suddenly the discussion of fiscal responsibility and student accountability took on a whole new meaning.

There is a lot of attention on the upcoming presidential election right now—some calling it one of the biggest races in the nation's history—but it's important not to lose focus on what's happening locally.

I recently met with the chairpersons of the Williamson County Republican and Democratic parties to talk about the local elections. They both agreed that the district attorney and the newly created state House of Representatives District 136 seat are among the most important races to watch. In our election preview, we've provided Q&As with the candidates for both of these races, along with the candidates for the local school board elections. You'll also find information on how to register to vote, when and where to go and what to take with you.

It's not too late to register, and early voting starts in a few weeks. Get informed and get to the polls.

Claire Love, Publisher - Austin Metro, [email protected]