As Election Day approaches, excitement and suspense mount for incumbents and challengers, alike.

I admire the challengers to our incumbents, because they personify democracy. Even if I choose an incumbent, I am grateful for the challenger for providing a choice. It shows courage and conviction.

Sometimes incumbents deserve confirmation, and sometimes they don't. I believe term limits are good for our local, state and national elections in order to deter complacency and corruption in government.

Our congressman is up for his umpteenth term. I voted for one of his challengers, a young man with the guts to take on the establishment.

Our local judicial race is also enhanced by a gutsy lady lawyer with decades of trial and family law experience that the incumbent lacks. She deserved my vote.

It's easy to look at a ballot and vote for the incumbent, but that is not necessarily the best choice. I applaud all of the candidates who have chosen to challenge incumbency. It's gutsy. It's American. It's Democracy in action.

Good luck to you all, and thanks for running.

Eileen McSorley lives in Nice, California.