With a good number of local debates, hobnobs and candidate forums under our belts, it’s once again time for voters to go to their polling places and cast their ballots in the primary election.

Party faithful, by picking party candidates for county, state and national races, will set the political stage for the Nov. 2 general election. Osceola County voters Tuesday also will decide at least three local races.

Two School Board members and one Kissimmee commissioner will be elected by the end of the day Tuesday. Two other races – one for School Board and the other for Kissimmee City Commission – will be narrowed down with four candidates total going on to a November run-off since it will be difficult for any one candidate in these respective races to garner more than 50 percent of the vote.

City of St. Cloud voters won’t have council candidates to pick until the Nov. 2 election, since the city is still on the November-December election cycle.

All in all, it’s been great to see the participation by so many qualified Democratic and Republican candidates, especially in the district 4 County Commission race. Plus, having a no-party candidate in the mix adds to the excitement. This race has had as many as 12 candidates at one time or another, with the final field now at seven and six contenders on the primary ballot.

There also has been good participation in the non-partisan School Board district 5 race, with three contenders trying to unseat the incumbent, and six candidates in the seat 2 Kissimmee race.

What’s also encouraging is that we have Tea Party candidates in the mix headed into the Nov. 2 election. The way we see it, the more the merrier.

We have to tip our hats to the St. Cloud Greater Osceola Chamber of Commerce, the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce and to the Osceola County Business and Taxpayers Association for holding various political events this summer. We also have to commend the many voters who showed up to observe or to ask questions.

On the negative side, though, there are some candidates who have violated local ordinances by placing signs on county or city property or on public right of way. We’ve had complaints and we’ve seen violations of the law ourselves. It’s time for candidates to put the signs where they belong — and campaign on the issues, not negativism.