Thumbs Down: To the registered voters in Lowndes County for the dismal turnout at Tuesday’s primary. Everyone wants to complain about those elected, but refused to take a few minutes to vote. If you don’t vote, you forfeit your right to complain. Perhaps the turnout for the runoff election on August 5 will be better than the less than 20 percent at the primary.

Thumbs Down: To the members of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority who stepped around proper protocol when re-electing leadership of the board. There are only five board members, and no one should take the position of chairman more than two terms. Too often, those appointed to boards and authorities think they are unaccountable for their actions. The taxpayers fund the Industrial Authority directly through a millage, so there is no excuse for operating outside the boundaries of reason. The organization belongs to the community, not to the three members who chose to dictate succession.

Thumbs Down: To the city of Atlanta for re-making their “Men at work” signs to a more politically correct version, spending thousands of dollars to appease a special interest group when the infrastructure of the community, public safety, and other urgent needs are not being taking care of. Our state capitol is crumbling under the weight of millions of dollars of debt and budget shortfalls and laying off hundreds of workers, but somehow Atlanta found the money to be politically correct. Apparently, common sense really isn’t all that common among elected officials.

Thumbs Up: To the annual Lowndes/Echols ACS Golf Championship at Stone Creek hosted by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office to benefit the American Cancer Society that wrapped up Friday. The event raises an average of $30,000 each year for ACS and has only grown more successful throughout the years. The popularity of the tournament has forced the Sheriff’s Office to increase the number of days of play to three in order to accommodate all of the teams eager to participate. When golf is more than just a game and is done for such a worthy cause, everybody wins.

Thumbs Up: To University of Georgia football coach Mark Richt, who visited Valdosta this week as part of Dawg Days. Richt, the coach of the nation’s preseason ranked No. 1 football team met with Georgia fans, answered questions and signed autographs Wednesday adding to the excitement of Valdosta’s debut on ESPN SportsCenter for the TitleTown feature. Richt offered a locker room worthy talk, getting the hundreds of Bull Dawg fans in attendance riled up for the upcoming season. We are honored that Richt would visit our city where it is never difficult to find a die-hard Dawg fan.