With a little less than two weeks of campaigning left and turnout low so far, candidates for the Augusta Commission and the Richmond County Board of Education know the importance of getting their supporters to the polls.

No one is more keenly aware of this than Bobby Hankerson, who lost a commission seat in 2005 when Calvin Holland defeated him by 11 votes. Mr. Hankerson is looking for redemption this go-around, pitted against Bill Lockett, whom Mr. Holland endorsed when he announced Aug. 29 that he wouldn't seek re-election.

Also wary of voter apathy is Commissioner Joe Bowles, the only incumbent facing opposition in the Nov. 3 election. Though he's not campaigning as hard as he did in 2005, Mr. Bowles isn't taking opponents Cleveland O'Steen and Joy B. Mitchell-Booker for granted, either.

Today, The Chronicle profiles the three candidates running for commission District 3, which covers Summerville and parts of west Augusta including Augusta Mall, and the two running for District 5, which covers parts of south Augusta including the old Regency Mall site.