There was never much doubt about it, but now it’s a fact: Island County voters will have some good choices in the two races for county commissioner on the 2012 ballot.

Republican Jim Campbell, an Oak Harbor city councilman, announced this week he will run against incumbent Democrat Angie Homola for the District 2 position.

Earlier this year, Republican Robert “Jeff” Lauderdale announced he will run against the District 1 incumbent, Helen Price Johnson.

The incumbents took office almost three years ago when the impact of the recession was first being felt. Since then, they’ve been put to the test with continuing revenue shortfalls due to the decline in sales and real estate taxes receipts, among others. To their credit, they’ve kept the budget balanced and county departments functioning despite painful spending cuts.

Campbell, known as a straight talker, cites as a reason for running the public bickering that has taken place on the Board of Island County Commissioners since Republican Kelly Emerson, a tea party activist, was elected last year to serve District 3. That ended the historic all-Democrat makeup of the board.

Homola counters that if it were three men disagreeing, the public wouldn’t notice so much.

Lauderdale was inspired to run by the county’s costly environmental mandate that all septic systems be inspected every three years and by other new fees and taxes. The new drainage utility tax will be levied on property owners for the first time in 2012 and the reaction could help his campaign.

It’s too early to get into particular issues, but it’s refreshing to see that we have solid candidates even before the election year begins and we’d welcome more.

Prospective candidates will have less time than ever to decide whether to run. Aside from fundraising needs, there are earlier deadlines next year. The period to officially file for office will be May 14 to 18, about three weeks earlier than in prior elections. And the primary election will be held Aug. 7, more than a week earlier than the 2011 primary and more than a month earlier than the traditional September primary that was the rule for decades in this state.

Next year features a host of local, county, state and federal positions on the ballot. We’ll need plenty of good candidates, but we’ve got a good start with the four who have already announced for commissioner.