The two candidates on the ballot for Freeborn County Commissioner District 5 are Mike Lee and Linda Tuttle. The Tribune endorses both.

If only all local races this year could be served by two well-qualified candidates like this one. Lee provides evidence of his willingness to go the extra mile for constituents from his days speaking on behalf of workers at Farmland Foods. Tuttle brings to the table experience as a top-notch deputy county recorder and a county recorder. She knows county government.

Both candidates are givers to the betterment of the Albert Lea community. Both candidates generally speak kindly of the other. We respect that Lee always is willing to let people know where he stands and has a strong desire to follow with voters’ wishes more than his own. We like that Tuttle would be able to comb through the county budget with her business skills in a year when the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners really is going to need it.

They differ on a few stances, but not so much to sway our selection.

We can’t help but wish both candidates could be elected to the board. Hats off to both for running. The District 5 voters already have won.