The overpowering din of the presidential race must not drown out interest in the county school board election or an important local ballot question.For school board, voters spoke clearly in the primary and advanced newcomers who promise a fresh approach to problems — real and perceived — of transparency, management and communications. Only one of the incumbents seeking another term cleared the primary bar and is one of six general election candidates for three open school board seats.Little has changed over the summer with the school leadership's approach or the platforms of the candidates. In fact, a state audit released last week cast even more doubts on the management of the school budget, citing lax oversight. (The school system bureaucracy, predictably, disputes the findings.)As we argued in the spring, a corrosive relationship has developed between the superintendent and school board members and their constituents, including parents, students, teachers and staff. Change is required.While there's much that's right with the school system, as evidenced in the recent release of standardized test schools, highly energized leaders are needed to keep the momentum for quality schools in a changing county.The candidates we endorsed in the primary — Kirsten Coombs, Christina Delmont-Small and Mavis Ellis — have the professed vision and track record to not only heal past wounds, but sustain academic gains. .They have put in long hours as volunteers and advocates, both at the local school level and on advisory committees. Coombs and Delmont-Small bring experience with budget and finance. Ellis knows classroom administration. They have promised to listen, deliberate, not be dismissive of alternative views — and be agents of change.Another ballot choice this year – known as Question A — is about whether to set up a citizen-funded campaign system that would use taxpayer dollars – perhaps $2 million – to help underwrite candidates for county executive and county council.Candidates taking the public money would have to agree to conditions and limits; the fine print of the rules would be determined by a county commission. The proposed change, supporters say, will help level the playing field and mute the influence of large contributors in local races.We are against Question A. Once again, as noted in a springtime editorial, we question the need for such a system, which is modeled after one in neighboring Montgomery County. There has not been a compelling case for a program at this time. A better approach would be to adopt a local check-off system so taxpayers could opt to make a voluntary contribution, perhaps when they file income taxes or pay property taxes, rather than having it extracted from the general tax coffers.Early voting starts today.