Jack Hatchell's death this summer left a leadership void on the Collin County Commissioners Court. But voters have two articulate and qualified candidates vying to serve the remaining two years of his term.

Democrat Jean Power and Republican Kathy Ward are both to be commended for answering the call to seek this office on such short notice, but the better choice is Ms. Ward.

A businesswoman with expertise in finding efficiencies and identifying best practices, Ms. Ward, 41, has worked in the debt-settlement industry. Before that, she was a special-needs teacher in Plano ISD. Since being appointed to the commissioners court in July, Ms. Ward has asked good questions during transportation briefings, gotten up to speed on budget issues and prepared herself well for the next two years on the court.

A former GOP county chair, she is well-connected to regional and state legislative leaders, a plus when it comes to dealing with Austin to get the county's fair share of transportation dollars. However, having never been a candidate herself, she needs to grow more accustomed to being pinned down on specific issues.

Ms. Power, 43, a former Community Voices volunteer columnist for this newspaper, is an attorney who clearly outlines her positions on the issues. The unfair treatment of Justin Nichols – the teen court coordinator run out of his job by commissioners for being gay – sparked her interest in the job. She says someone needs to speak out against bigotry on the court, but she aims her criticism too broadly. We worry that her style might heighten tensions without offering a solution. Ms. Ward says she would not oppose hiring a gay teen court coordinator, and it's unfair to criticize her for a process that was well under way before she joined the court.

With more time to prepare and a more focused campaign, Ms. Power would be a strong candidate for future elected office, but right now the county needs the steady leadership of Ms. Ward.

... and Joe Jaynes in Collin Precinct 3

Collin County Commissioner Joe Jaynes' own opponent in the Nov. 4 election gives him a B-plus grade for his service in office.

That's a fair assessment of the three-term commissioner from Precinct 3, and one that earns him re-election.

A Republican, Mr. Jaynes, 49, is running against Democrat Victor Manuel, 38. Both live in McKinney.

Mr. Jaynes has offered a constructive voice in guiding the booming growth of Collin County. His district encompasses the county's northern two-thirds, where rapid development is putting heavy pressure on roadways. Mr. Jaynes deserves credit for helping to pass the bond package for roads and green space last year.

He has focused on transportation in other ways, pushing for speeded-up rail transit to unserved areas. Mr. Jaynes' membership on the Regional Transportation Council positions him to make progress on that and other regional solutions to traffic congestion.

Mr. Jaynes also crafted and helped pass a way to improve indigent health care by providing treatment through private clinics.

All this is not to say Mr. Jaynes has been the perfect officeholder. Two years ago, he was for an ill-advised 17 percent raise for commissioners before he was against it. Mr. Jaynes says he learned his lesson on that issue.

Mr. Manuel is a Marine Corps veteran who has worked in information technology for government and business. He has been involved in parent activities in

McKinney schools and ran unsuccessfully for McKinney school board last year. Mr. Manuel is finishing work on a bachelor's degree.

Though showing effort in catching up on county issues, Mr. Manuel lacks the firm grasp that the commissioners court needs, especially with the high turnover the court is experiencing.

That the court is in transition makes it all the more important to return Mr. Jaynes to office, where we expect him to become more of a consensus builder.

DMN Suburban Editorial Board