Mary Henkel Judson is editor and co-publisher of the South Jetty. Contact her at (361) 749-5131 or southjetty@centurytel.net. I'll give it to you straight: Citizen of the Year is not a popularity contest.

Anyone who meets the criteria for this award has to have made someone unhappy or flat out angry. It goes with the territory.

Even if you don't like one of our past Citizens of the Year, every one of them has met the criteria and, better than that, continues to serve this community in the way that resulted in their selection. That reinforces the notion that those selected in the past are, indeed, deserving of recognition - without exception.

The award recognizes individuals for past and current service in several aspects of the community who have records of giving back to the community in volunteer time without expectation of personal or professional gain. (Read that sentence again - very carefully.)

If you have been disappointed that your nominee has not been selected, understand two things: One, Port Aransas is richly blessed with many individuals who meet the criteria. It's going to take a while to recognize them all. Second, it is critical that as much detailed information as possible be provided that substantiates the nomination. Don't assume the selection committee knows as much about your nominee as you do.

Understand, too, that the number of nominations a single individual receives has no bearing on the selection as Citizen of the Year.

As this is written, only one nomination has been officially received. I have been told another is on its way.

Two nominations?

Usually we have 15 to 18 people submit nominations. I don't know how many individuals those nominations represent because I do not open the nominations, but with that many nominations, you can be sure at least eight or 10 nominees are involved.

We haven't come to the end of the line when it comes to people who serve this community for unselfish reasons.

Tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 17, is the deadline to turn in nominations. You do not have to write an essay. A list detailing the work done or organizations served by the nominee will suffice. Do it. Today.