The Senate District 39 seat is currently held by Greg Tarver, who is termed out.

Sam Jenkins and Cedric Glover square off in the Nov. 18 general election for this seat. Both of these are members of the House of Representatives, and both are termed out of their House seats.

Both candidates are African Americans, and both are lifelong Democrats. Both have held public office before being elected to the House.

It's time for voters to look closely at these candidates and ask hard questions. Here are a few, for starters:

1. What is your educational background?

2. What is/has been your occupation/employment for the last 20 years, other than being an elected official?

3. What positions do you hold/have you held in the House?

4. What committees did you serve on and currently serve on as a representative, and what has been your attendance at committee meetings?

5. What endorsements do you have for the Senate race?

6. What projects did you bring to your House district while serving as a representative?

Senate District 39 encompasses a large portion of Caddo Parish. This seat will be vital to the parish and Shreveport in the coming years. Serious vetting of these two candidates is needed.