Last week, the politically unimaginable happened right here in Western Tidewater.

In an age where candidacies are undertaken by egos that are disproportionately large in relationship to the ability of the candidates who possess them, it is hard to imagine a candidate dropping out of a race because he believes a more qualified individual is in the running. Yet that is exactly what former candidate for sheriff in Isle of Wight County Rick Gaddis did.

Gaddis, a Newport News homicide detective, dropped out of the race Thursday to support another candidate, Smithfield Police Chief Mark Marshall. In a statement released by Gaddis, he states, “Chief Marshall has already done what I aspire to do. This election should not be about personal aspirations or egos. This election is about the new leadership so drastically needed at the Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Office.”

We couldn’t agree more. Well done, Mr. Gaddis.