Barely 12 months ago six candidates were scrambling for attention to contest the sought-after Frome electorate in an unexpected by-election.

Now we are moving toward a State election, where all seats are up for grabs and candidate interest in the mid north appears to have waned.

And it’s not just candidate interest which is low – at an opportunity on Monday afternoon for Clare and Gilbert Valleys councillors to ask some tough questions and find out for themselves what the candidates would do for the region, only two councillors showed up.

It was an exclusive chance to quiz candidates from major parties and the incumbent about their plans and hopes, which became a missed opportunity.

There was slightly more interest all round at the by-election, when the council extended a similar invitation in December 2008 which saw four candidates turn up for a grilling from four councillors and the Mayor.

As well as not turning up at Monday’s council forum, some candidates also seem to be missing in action.

The community has not, for example, heard from either the Family First or the Greens candidates, although they still have time to get their messages out before voters go to the polls on March 20.

So far, there has been a remarkable lack of “politicking” in Frome.

Despite the Liberals making a couple of announcements of funding promises if they become elected, the Labor Party has not come out with any counter-offers.

But it’s not too late for the community or the candidates to exchange useful information.

There are still a couple of weeks left to find out what makes candidates really tick and what they plan to do for Frome if they get a chance.

There’s still time too, for the ordinary man and woman in the street to contact candidates and question them about issues close to their hearts and to balance and weigh the responses.

It’s time for candidates to stand up on their own merits and the merits of the parties they are aligned with, and time for voters to start thinking about the crucial decision they will make when they go to the polls.

Ask about water security, education, hospitals, health, about strategies for your children’s future, the region’s economic growth and anything else you can think of.