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For Guilford County voters, congressional races rarely produce much in the way of fireworks or close contests.

The campaigning has been quiet as usual this year. Whether voters express enough dissatisfaction with any of the familiar incumbents to make changes remains to be seen. For the most part, Howard Coble, Mel Watt and Brad Miller have served their constituents well.

6th District

Twelve-term GOP Rep. Coble admits to being "a little long in the tooth" but hasn't yet set a timetable for retiring from the 6th District.

Although Teresa Sue Bratton is asking voters to make the decision for him, the inexperienced Democrat faces an uphill battle in the heavily Republican district that takes in parts of Guilford, Alamance, Rowan and Davidson counties and all of Randolph.

Accessibility, outstanding constituent service and a strong work ethic have been the hallmarks of Coble's lengthy tenure. To many constituents, he's just "plain, ole Howard."

On congressional votes, he seldom strays from the party line. However, he did dig in his heels and criticize the Bush administration's Iraq policy and opposed the troop surge, citing the lack of a post-invasion strategy. And as a backer of Mitt Romney, he offers only lukewarm support for GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain.

In this campaign, Coble, 77, sees priority issues as the economy, illegal immigration and developing new energy sources. He would like to lower capital gains taxes and cap estate taxes. Concerning immigration, he opposes amnesty and wants more secure borders.

As a physician, Bratton, 60, makes revising the nation's health care system a critical part of her agenda. She also wants U.S. troops removed immediately from Iraq and tighter financial market restrictions.

While Bratton's years as a physician are noteworthy, she lacks critical firsthand knowledge of the workings of the political system. Rather than setting her sights on Congress, starting a political career at the local or state level would seem a wiser choice.

Coble, on the other hand, must guard against coasting through what could be a final term before retiring. His loyal constituents deserve the same commitment to the job that he has delivered over decades of dedicated service.

12th District

The 12th District -- "the I-85 District" -- runs from Charlotte to Greensboro and takes in parts of six counties. Its representative, Democrat Mel Watt, 63, a Charlotte attorney, deserves to be re-elected. He is a perceptive man who isn't afraid to take an unpopular stand.

Most recently, Watt supported the economic bailout plan, despite the objections of some constituents. He did so because he felt the Bush administration provided compelling evidence that such action was needed to avert further financial crisis. However, as a member of the House Financial Services Committee, he took a leadership role in revising the legislation to check executive powers and to address other concerns.

Watt did not see eye to eye with the Bush administration on Iraq. That caused him to take an unpopular stand at that time: He was part of the minority of Congress members who voted against the Iraq war resolution, saying the administration never made the case that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction.

Watt sees the economy as a priority, saying the Bush administration's lack of regulatory oversight led to much of the economic pain the nation is now enduring. Like his colleague, 13th District Rep. Miller, Watt has sought to impose such oversight by sponsoring legislation to end predatory lending practices and to provide more regulation.

Watt is a supporter of innovation in the area of energy, thinking that can both spur the economy and help the country reduce its dependence on foreign oil.

Watt's opponent, Republican Tyrus "Ty" Cobb Jr., 68, of Salisbury, is a graduate of West Point who had a career in the military, which included service in Vietnam. He has not held elective office.

Cobb sees energy independence as a central concern and supports both drilling and the development of alternative forms of energy. He would like a withdrawal of troops from Iraq "as soon as practical," but says it would have to be gradual. He has been quoted as saying he would have voted against the bailout.

13th District

North Carolina's newest congressional district -- the 13th -- stretches from the Virginia border, picks up parts of Greensboro and Burlington and continues into Raleigh. Democrat Miller, 55, a Raleigh attorney, has represented the district since its inception and is nearing the end of his third term. Voters should send him again to Washington.

In six short years, Miller has become a congressional leader. Events have helped propel him to such a position: The expertise he carved out on the issue of predatory lending as a member of the House Financial Services Committee has been sought by many as the subprime mortgage crisis unfolded. Miller consistently has been on the side of homeowners and has pushed for changes in the law to help people facing foreclosure hold on to their homes.

Miller also supports programs for job training and growth. Since his days as a state senator, he has backed community colleges.

In 2005, he initiated creation of the Congressional Community College Caucus. Miller also has been supportive of Small Business Administration programs.

A member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Miller has sponsored a resolution calling for the president to provide a detailed exit plan from Iraq. His other areas of focus on the committee are Europe and Africa.

Miller's Republican opponent is former state Sen. Hugh Webster, 65, of Burlington. Webster, an accountant, wants to simplify the federal tax code, which he says is an "abomination against humanity." He lists energy independence and illegal immigration as other priorities.

Webster opposes the federal bailout (which Miller voted for) and also has pledged not to support congressional earmarks. (Miller favors "greater transparency" in earmarks and has said he will support them if "community leaders request them" and they serve the public good.)

Miller's hard work and accomplishments benefit the district and should secure him a fourth term.