Article IV, Section 4 of the United States Constitution: “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government.”

This doesn’t refer to political party labels, but rather to the Founders’ vision for the type of government best suited to establish our nation. In purest form, a democracy has all voters directly deciding on each and every issue.

In a republic, we elect representatives to fulfill this obligation, to be “our voice” in government. On occasion, we’ve experienced the disappointment of elected representatives in government saying one thing to get votes and following a contrary course after the election. To lessen the likelihood of this outcome, it is our duty as citizens and our responsibility as voters to carefully evaluate the candidates who desire to become our representatives before the election and keep a watchful eye on them afterwards.

You’ll notice the campaign signs starting to pop-up along Shea Boulevard in Scottsdale. These must yield some benefit to the candidates, but do they really tell you that much about them? A better way to prudently evaluate candidates is to have closer contact, ask your questions, hear the answers, assess how they explain their views on issues of importance to you, and decide who is worthy to be elected as “our voice.”

Fountain Hills AZ Tea Party has been affording you that opportunity since 2010, and will do so again on Tuesday, July 15, 6:30 p.m. at Fountain Hills School District Learning Center. Our program will include: Lina Bellenir, Town Council candidate; Mark Brnovich, candidate for Arizona Attorney General; and a State Senate forum with our own Rep. John Kavanagh and his opponent in the primary, Jeff Schwartz.

Admission is free. Donations to offset expenses are appreciated. Come, listen, learn and help choose “our voice.”