Imagine my glee last week watching the St. Louis Cardinals, given up for dead near the end of the season when they trailed the Milwaukee Brewers in their division and seemed out of the running for the wild card spot behind Atlanta, beat the Brewers soundly last week to advance to the World Series.

Glee because when we were boys in the 50s, my brother and I picked baseball teams to root for.

Bob picked the Brooklyn Dodgers, back when New York City was a three team Major League town, with the mighty Yankees, the Dodgers and the Giants.

I picked St. Louis for reasons unknown and it’s been fun watching them ever since. Although it’s not the same with umpteen teams in each league and two sets of playoffs before you get to the series. By rights the Phillies should be playing in the fall classic, since they had the best won-lost record in baseball.

But things change.

And that’s the question here in Goochland, where candidates for School Board and the Board of Supervisors are winding up and throwing their best pitches to the voters, here in the homestretch to the Nov. 8 election.

Some have called this the most important election in modern Goochland history, with the potential for significant change on both boards.

They are probably right – that the election is mighty important. But it strikes this writer as a case of be careful what you wish for. Should the ardent challengers take over, they will be faced with the same problems that bedeviled their predecessors – TCSD financing, a steady decline in county revenues and the need to craft a sensible economic growth plan during a period when business is in the doldrums, not to mention how to spend ever dwindling resources in the school system.

Here in Goochland the various candidate forums have been underway, giving anyone interested a chance to check out those who have chosen to run in these difficult times.

And the recent correction, or amending of the school superintendent’s contract after the Palen suit was dismissed, should make it clear that the School Board members meant what they said when they gave support for the current school administration and the budget decisions they approved.

So it’s down to the homestretch. By the time the Gazette hits the street (some get it on Wednesday); there will still be time to plan on attending the Chamber of Commerce Forum for School Board candidates Wednesday night at the High School auditorium. Six o’clock is the time.

Another opportunity presents itself with the GEPA forum at the Goochland Recreation Center on Sunday, Oct. 23 from 4 to 6 p.m.

It may not be as much fun as rooting for your team in the World Series but supporting the candidates of your choice is a lot more important.

See you Sunday.