Your daily newspaper should be like your friend next door who knows some things that you don’t, and shares with you important stuff about where we live.

After all, a newspaper isn’t a thing — it’s the shared work of people who live here, your neighbors. We pay property taxes, send our kids to school, attend events, buy groceries and worry about our future just the same way, and in the same places that you do.

Some of the most important information for us to share with you is about local issues and candidates on the ballot. Our taxes, land use, development and environment are impacted by the decisions we will make in the upcoming election.

How you choose to vote is your business. Our business is to make sure that you have as much information as possible about how each candidate intends to lead on issues, or how your tax dollars will be spent for bond levies.

That’s why we’ve partnered with other local organizations to host candidate forums in Astoria, Seaside and Cannon Beach. You should have the opportunity to see and hear each candidate, and ask questions.

The Seaside forum has passed, but join us at the Astoria voters forum on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Astoria High School. Candidates for Astoria mayor and City Council, Warrenton mayor, Clatsop County commissioner and state House District 32 are expected to attend, as well as Patrick Starnes, the Independent candidate for governor.

The Cannon Beach forum for city candidates is at 7 p.m. Thursday at Coaster Theater.

There will also be an Astoria mayoral candidate debate at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at Clatsop Community College, moderated by President Chris Breitmeyer.

The Astoria events are co-sponsored by the American Association of University Women, Coast Community Radio, Clatsop Community College and The Daily Astorian.

Go. Listen. Ask questions.

Daily Astorian Editor Jim Van Nostrand and I are also interviewing local candidates for contested positions for this election. We are spending time and asking questions to determine candidate positions on issues that are important to us on the North Coast. We will then form our recommendation to you for which candidate we would choose in each race — an endorsement.

The purpose of an endorsement is to share our thoughts on these personal interviews with candidates — something most readers don’t otherwise have time for or access to. We define what we think represents the best interests of Clatsop County. Then we recommend the person we think sees that vision for the future.

There are many newspapers now that don’t publish endorsements, because they may anger their readers. The Daily Astorian has never been afraid of voicing an opinion. Endorsements stimulate thought and conversations that invigorate debate. And unlike much of politics these days, we don’t mind differences of opinion. If your opinion differs from ours, send us a letter to the editor. Your opinion helps inform your neighbors of other points of view.

If you’re not registered to vote, you have until October 16 to register. It’s easy to do online — just search for “Oregon voter registration” and follow the links. Or drop into the Clatsop County elections office in the courthouse at 820 Exchange Street. All you’ll need is your Oregon drivers license.

Read, attend a forum, become informed. And most importantly, when that ballot comes in the mail, vote.

Kari Borgen is publisher of The Daily Astorian.

• Candidate forum: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Astoria High School.

• Candidate forum: 7 p.m. Thursday, Coaster Theater, Cannon Beach.

• Astoria mayoral debate: 7 p.m. Oct. 10, Room 219, Columbia Hall, Clatsop Community College.

All events free and open to public.