With 14 people running for Butler County Commissioner, the primary race this spring should be interesting. But it’s up to the candidates to make it interesting and informative enough to drive voters to the polls.

Any candidate trying to emerge from a field of 10, as in the case of Republicans, or four, with the Democrats, will need to work hard. By the time the election arrives, voters should know what separates one candidate from the others. They should know what each candidate sees as his or priorities, if they are elected.

The election should be about more than who puts up the most signs along the roads.

Ed Natali, chairman of the county Republican Committee, thinks the crowded field is a good thing: “It will bring a lot of topics to the forefront.”

Let’s hope so.

Candidates from both parties should weigh in on the issue of the county senior centers and whether several need to be closed. They should address the issue of pay for county officials, which has become a contentious issue over the past year or so. They should offer their views on the county budget, county payroll and taxes.

The candidates should offer their views on further consolidation of volunteer fire departments — there have been two recent consolidations — as a way to deal with ongoing challenges here and around the country in staffing departments with volunteers. Are there other opportunities for consolidation that candidates could support?

Candidates should be attending county commissioner meetings. Are they all doing that?

It’s unclear what makes this year’s election different to attract so many candates.

It could be that two open seats with incumbents not running presents a unique opportunity. Is it that people see the county commissioner job as a good gig, with generous pay and good benefits? Or could it be that the often-contentious atmosphere among the current county commissioners has inspired more people to run — promising to end the personal attacks and bickering that has dominated too many commissioner meetings in the past few years.

Candidates — and voters — should realize that for the May 19 primary, every vote really does count. With so many candidates running in a primary, which generally produces low voter turnout, the winners could be determined by a few hundred votes, or by an even slimmer margin.

Let’s hope the candidates put real effort into the campaign and get their views out there with substance and specifics. It’s an important position and voters deserve something better, at least in terms of civility, respect and cooperation.