If you want a really good election, your best chance is to strip away all the parties, all the big money and all the mud-slinging.

If you do all that, what have you got? Local elections.

More than any other kinds of elections, local ones are about personalities and ideas, not about who spends the most or who’s with the right party.

In Albert Lea and Freeborn County, the elections this fall are shaping up to be riveting contests that will, I hope, draw a lot of interest. Many people will be elected to do many important jobs, including mayor of Albert Lea, Albert Lea city councilor, county commissioner, and county sheriff.

With so much happening in the last two years &045; the Farmland fire, a new focus on downtown development, the quickly advancing courthouse discussions, more emphasis on the lakes &045; there’s plenty for these candidates to talk about, and the story lines developing are going to make this one monster of a political year.

Some that are already shaping up:

– How many candidates?

People have until Tuesday to plop down a few bucks and declare their candidacy. That’s one great part about local elections. No endorsements, no party conventions, no collecting signatures to get your name on the ballot. If you have enough money to buy lunch and a beef about something, presto! You’re a candidate.

This means you get a few hotheads and malcontents, but so what? It also means there’s a chance for anybody to get involved in their government. Even if they don’t win, having lots of candidates is a great way to ensure there will be lots of debate, lots of discussion &045; lots of thinking &045; before the elections. Who wants uncontested races? An uncontested candidate doesn’t have to attend forums, knock on doors or make any effort to explain why they deserve to be our representative. That’s not only boring, it’s also not good for democracy.

So far, the race for mayor has five strong candidates, the campaign for sheriff has three, and all the city council seats are contested by at least one challenger. A good start. I hope to see even more people registering in the last two days.

– Mayoral brouhaha.

Suddenly everybody wants to be mayor. And none of the five candidates so far fit in to the hothead/malcontent category, as far as I can see. Not one of them is running because they lost a bet.

In the order their candidacies went public, they are: George Marin, Tony Trow, Mark Anderson, Jean Eaton and Donald Mathison. There may be more, too.

The only thing I’m sure about is that with this mix, the campaign will be full of ideas, brimming with discussion and probably very close. With so many important things going on in Albert Lea, this will be the most imporant election of the year.

– The courthouse plan.

For county commissioner, one race features board chairman Dave Mullenbach, who has been a leader of the county’s courthouse effort, against Truman Thrond, who doesn’t like much of the county’s plan. That will surely wind up making the future of the courthouse &045; and more specifically, the 1954 building &045; a big campaign issue. Sometimes I wonder: Do most people care much about the courthouse? Do most have a strong opinion on the ’54 building? Maybe this campaign will help us find out.

– Destination: Albert Lea’s ambition.

Two key members of DAL, the group that formed about a year ago and helped put more focus on the downtown area and the lakes, in an attempt to attract more people here, are looking to make the jump into city goverment. President Randy Erdman is running for council and director Trow is going for mayor.

So how much does the average person agree with DAL’s emphasis on downtown, the lakes and other issues? Seeing how Trow and Erdman do at the polls could be an indicator.

– New sheriff in town.

With Don Nolander hanging it up, it’s time to pick a new top lawman. Mark Harig, Bob Kindler and Phil Bartusek all have the experience, but who makes the best sheriff? And, how will people decide? Nolander was originally appointed; it’s been decades since residents of Freeborn County have chosen a brand-new sheriff from a list of guys who have never had the job. What criteria do people find important in choosing a sheriff? All three candidates will try to set the agenda, and the question is who will succeed.

Dylan Belden is the Tribune’s managing editor. His column appears Sundays.