I have a confession to make: I like Howard Gentry, and he surprised and impressed me today at a blogger forum he hosted at his campaign office. Let me make this clear: I liked and respected Gentry and said as much back in December, but I wasn’t expecting what I saw and experienced from him in person today.

In my opinion, Gentry is a candid, genuine, hospitable and idealistic candidate, and he’s the kind of person who ought to be a mayor. (OK, he’s a little long-winded, too.) Today he gave the straightest, most honest answers of any of the candidates I’ve met so far or read about in the paper. I’d have to put David Briley second in that category, followed by Karl Dean, Buck Dozier and Bob Clement.

Gentry closed with an off-the-cuff comment that summarized his approach: “I know I didn’t provide y’all with a four-step platform and my core issues” and quipped that he’d be sure to print a brochure to put them on paper soon. His point, I think, was that the other candidates in the race all have their messaging, their nuanced answers and their hollow rhetoric, but Gentry has passion and sincerely wants to make a real difference, not just say the right things. Whatever the outcome may be, I left with the impression that Gentry means what he says, and that says a lot.

I’m sure the rest of the field consists of relatively decent, well-intentioned people (and that includes Clement), but if I had a grandmother who needed to be safely carried across the street or I accidentally dropped my wallet on the sidewalk, Gentry is the candidate that I would hope would be the first to arrive at either scene. He is a trustworthy figure.