Editor's note: Smyrna’s general election on Tuesday, Nov. 8 is just five days away. Early voting is ongoing at the Smyrna Community Center through Friday, Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

In the 2007 election, less than 3,000 of 29,000 registered Smyrna voters bothered to go to the polls. For the past two elections combined, less than 7,000 casted their ballot for mayor in Smyrna.

Will the presence of a record 19 candidates on the ballot help send more to the polls this year? Most observers say yes, as it has been a very spirited and at times nasty election season in the Jonquil City.

Oh, and residents will also vote on whether they want the choice to buy alcohol in stores on Sundays. The law would go into effect on Jan.1 if the referendum passes.

Longtime Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon is facing a pair of challengers in Alex Backry and Donna Short Woodham, while four of the seven council seats are being vied for.

The council positions pay $17,100 per year and Councilman Wade Lnenicka, Ward 6, and Councilwoman Teri Anulewicz, Ward 3, are running unopposed. So is Andrea Blustein, Ward 2, who is set to take the seat of Ron Newcomb, who is not seeking re-election.

On Tuesday, we asked questions involving the Ward 7 race and Wednesday we took a peek at the Ward 1 race.

Now let’s peer into what’s going on with Ward 4, where three candidates, Alex Bretch, Judith Causey Jones and Charles “Corkey” Welch, are seeking to unseat Councilman Mike McNabb.

Hopefully voters and candidates can use this forum to intelligently and respectfully discuss the issues at hand heading into next week’s election.

So, with Election Day rapidly approaching, who are you going to vote for in Ward 4 and why? The candidates have been actively campaigning, knocking on doors and each have introduced themselves on Patch.

What have you heard from the candidates about making the SPLOST-funded Concord Road project come to fruition?

Do you want more town hall meetings for Ward 4? How will the January opening of The Crossings at Four Corners affect the ward and the city?

Residents of Ward 4 have expressed traffic concerns and do you know where the candidates stand on the Cobb County School District’s proposal to close Brown Elementary School as a traditional elementary school. The H.A.V.E.N. Academy, a special education program that is currently located at Fitzhugh Lee School, would then be relocated to the old Brown Elementary site.

Let us know what you think and let’s get the conversation started.