The Lowndes County Board of Commissioners kicked off a new year of business Tuesday afternoon by swearing in two incumbents. District 2 Commissioner Richard Lee and District 3 Commissioner G. Robert Carter each won re-election bids in contested races in November. Their next four years will be spent navigating the county through the challenges that arise as this metropolitan area grows and expands.

And speaking of growth, something was missing from the picture Tuesday as the veteran commissioners took their oath of office. The Lowndes County Commission, as it stands, has four members — three commissioners representing a county split into three districts, and a chairman. Each commissioner has a vote, and the chairman is called on to vote in case of a tie. Think of how big Lowndes is and then consider how many factors a single commissioner must study and take into account when making decisions. While we believe the Commission is an able body that puts the county’s best interests at heart, we think another person needs to be added to the picture to keep up with the growing population.

In congratulating Carter and Lee as they begin their terms, we urge the whole Commission to make adding another person to their body a priority in 2007. Commissioners can’t do it alone; the General Assembly must also act in concert with Lowndes County. Still, the local leadership can do the best job of making the case for why the Commission needs to expand to meet the demands of a metro area.