For the most part, we have been disappointed with how candidates have chosen to take advantage of their opportunities to set themselves apart before voters.

Forums in all three eastern Wake County towns gave candidates an opportunity to answer questions posed primarily by voters. And while we've been impressed with the sincerity of the questions, the ability of the candidates to give a straightforward answer has been, less than we had hoped.

A couple of examples:

Asked about the financial supporters of their campaign, Wendell mayoral candidate Tim Hinnant said he and his wife were the biggest single contributors to their campaign.

That doesn't really answer the question. Among his largest contributors were John Lewis and Neal Conolly, who live outside the town limits and were party to a lawsuit against the town over the town board's decision - when Hinnant was mayor - to approve rezoning that allows the expansion of Pepper Pointe.

Asked about what circumstances might arise that would force him to consider raising taxes, Zebulon commission candidate Don Bumgarner described that as a hypothetical question and, therefore, one he could not answer. But that doesn't change the fact that voters have a vested interest in understanding where a candidate's thresholds lie. Clearly, as the question stated, no elected official wants to raise taxes, but sometimes situations arise that force such unenviable decisions. Candidates should have some idea of the priorities they want to protect and what they see as expendable.

In Knightdale, candidates at the town council forum danced around so many questions and recited so many platitudes it would have been laughable had the issues been more trivial.

Candidates may be wary of making promises they will be held to later, but we believe that's what they should want to do. The best candidates for any position - from dogcatcher to president - should be able to elucidate an opinion on the issues of the day. Those issues aren't generally secrets. It's not unreasonable that voters should expect clear, accurate and complete answers to the questions the candidates are asked.

Voters recognize obfuscation and it can cost a candidate on election day.