As the political animal once again visits our table, we are invited to pick up our forks and spoons and dig in.  We know how to dig in; we've done it before.  With measured aplomb, we take the platter as it's being passed around and eye the steaming morsels.  We choose between the moist dark meat and the drier light meat.  All of it has been cut and trimmed in season.  We, the partakers, are primed to quell the queasy stomach and satisfy hunger pains for truth and transparency.
Journey to the table has not been easy for the feature creature.  By this time it has been burned and boiled in hot water, scalped and feathered.  It's been pulled and plucked.  It's been gutted and gored.  It's been baptized and baked.  It's ready to be eaten.  The table is set.
Before the meal we lick our chops and give thanks.  After the meal we chew on the bones a bit and give more thanks.  It is, after all, the season of Thanksgiving.
The Victoria Gazette, which advocates a healthy blend of meat and potatoes along with a garden variety of fruits and vegetables, gives thanks to all who stick their necks out to visit our table, and also thanks to their spouses and families who allot a portion of them to us, to friends who encourage and listen to them, and residents who make efforts to become informed about them.
The Gazette especially says thank you to the citizens who write letters to the editor and thereby extend support a la carte.  Letter writers fulfill a significant role as they attest to taste and tenderness.  Thank you, dear writers of letters, for contributing detail and description to the menu in the City of Victoria and County of Carver, and for helping the Gazette to educate and communicate.  The table is set.  We now make our choices as the plate is passed on Tuesday, November 5th. 

To the Editor:
I am writing this letter in support of Mark Lundgren as County Auditor.  As a city councilmember, I have seen firsthand the workings of the auditor's office.  I have seen the City of Victoria grow through the years, requiring more and more information to make our decisions. 
The city deals with and depends on a great deal of information disseminated to us from the auditor's office.  I appreciate the fact that Mark is willing to train all election judges rather than delegate that duty to each city and township and to serve as the Absentee Precinct for voting.  This takes a huge burden off staff mem-bers of each city.
I appreciate the tax base estimates given to us on a timely basis.  These esti-mates allow us to analyze the taxpayer impact of local spending and are therefore invaluable in setting the city's annual bud-get.
These are only two examples of the many ways the city benefits from the cooperation we enjoy with his office.  Ex-perience does make a difference.  Please join me in keeping that experience work-ing for the citizens of Carver County.
Re-elect Mark Lundgren.
Dave Lindgren, Victoria City Councilmember
Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:
I am requesting that the citizens of Carver County join me in voting for Randal C. Eiden as our next Carver County Treasurer. 
I have known Randy Eiden most of his life.  He is honest and dependable.  Randy is the best candidate for the job based on his education and past business experience.
I'm very impressed with Randy's military service and his commitment to his country.  Randy spent eight years in active duty with the U.S. Navy, serving as a flight crew member in the Desert Storm/
Gulf War.  He continues to serve as a U.S. Navy Reservist.
The current retiring treasurer, Donald F. Dahlke, is endorsing Randy for the next treasurer.  With Don's 44 years of experi-ence in the Treasurer's Office, he should know who is the most qualified to replace him.
Vote November 5th for Randal C. Eiden for Carver County Treasurer.
Kermit Austad
Chanhassen, Minnesota

To the Editor:
We are very fortunate that John Sieg-fried is running for re-election as Carver County Commissioner for the 3rd District.  He brings proven leadership, experience in public service, and is very involved in our community.
As chair of the Carver County Board of Commissioners, John has demonstrated strong leadership and the ability to focus on issues material to Carver County.  He has been instrumental in leading the efforts for establishing the Environmental Resource Management Center and the EMS Communication System in Carver County.  He has been involved in
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