It’s a transitional time for Fountain Hills, with the office of mayor and three council seats up for election in August. That’s four out of seven local governmental positions being decided in just a few months, which will obviously have a large impact on the future of our community.

As of this printing, potential candidates have until this afternoon to drop off their paperwork and petitions to be added to the ballot. By next week, we will have a clear picture of who is running for what, and then it’s off to the races.

It’s no secret that Fountain Hills’ budget is a Rubik’s Cube in need of solving in the coming years, and the men and women running for election aim to offer their skills in the hopes of helping make all of the correct twists and turns.

In order to help keep our readers informed, The Times will kick off its usual Q&A series with candidates in the coming weeks. All candidates will be given an equal opportunity to field a handful of questions we think get to the heart of Fountain Hills’ most pressing issues.

Those will be coupled with forums conducted by various local groups, as well as any outside appearances candidates will be making on their own. We encourage everyone to look, listen and learn as much as possible before casting a ballot on Aug. 28.

To this year’s candidates, we say “thank you.” Serving your community won’t be an easy task, so we appreciate everyone who is willing to step up and throw their hat into the ring for consideration. Good luck in the coming race and we’ll see you all at the finish line.