Next Friday will mark the final day for those Ward 3 residents interested in competing in the special election to fill a spot on the Selma City Council can qualify for the election.

As of right now, five stand ready to compete in the May 24 election to fill the spot left vacant by the departure of Dr. Monica Newton.

What will be interesting to see as the race unfolds and those in the race scurry from door to door petitioning for votes, is what issue will be the No. 1 topic for voters in Ward 3.

With such a diverse electorate in Ward 3, no one topic will apply to all voters, but quickly becoming a hot topic will be what will become of Byrd Elementary School if in fact the Selma City School Board decides to close the school beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.

Voters, especially those within the Old Town district of Ward 3, are worried of what will become of their property values when their neighborhood school closes and what condition the property will be kept in if the school is closed.

Another topic that must compete for the No. 1 issue must be that of crime as burglaries and other property crimes have increased in the ward over the past few years. Reports of break-ins and robberies are not quite commonplace, but are disturbingly prevalent.

The five candidates already qualified must work hard and fast to convince voters they are the right person for the city council position, not because of the color of their skin or what part of the ward they live, but because they have the best ideas to properly serve the residents of Ward 3.