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District 4, which encompasses most of northeastern Guilford County, is represented by Democrat Kirk Perkins, who is chairman of the Guilford County commissioners. Perkins, 52, of McLeansville, has done a good job representing his district and bringing order to a governmental body prone to disorder. He deserves a second term.

Perkins' opponent is Eddie Souther, 39, a building supply sales representative who also is from McLeansville. Souther, a Republican, opposed Perkins in 2004. He is vice chairman of the county's board of adjustment.

Souther has a passion for local government and has ideas that are worth exploring. For instance, he thinks students and local businesses would benefit if the district placed more emphasis on vo-tech. He also thinks school construction costs run high and that adopting uniform school building plans would bring costs down. He supports the quarter-cent sales tax.

He says he would "bring a conservative business approach to the board" and would "listen to the people of Guilford County and be a spokesman for them, not just talk at them."

Perkins, self-employed in contracting and real estate, made the most of his first term, rising to a leadership position. He also serves on many boards as the commissioners' representative.

Like Souther, Perkins is concerned about school construction costs and would like a study to be conducted to determine whether the commissioners should take over school construction. He supports the quarter-cent sales tax and has as a priority providing unincorporated areas of the county water and sewer service.

Perkins has done much to tone down the rhetoric at commissioners' meetings, which has upped those meetings' quality. That in itself is a major accomplishment. For it, his hard work, knowledge of the issues and willingness to advocate for necessary funding for county programs, he deserves a second term.