It sure seems early for a primary election, in mid-August, when the sun shines bright and hot, and minds are elsewhere, like Beijing.

In the summer, politics run pretty cold, in the minds of most voters. Candidates, especially those in uncontested primaries, tend to bide their time and hold off on their hard-core (read expensive) campaigning until September and beyond.

But it’s best not to overlook this primary. This year, the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election.

Renton voters, in particular, should lick those stamps or march to their polling place. In a House race in the 41st District, Renton school board member Marcie Maxwell is running against Mercer Island City Council member Steve Litzow. Both will advance to the general election in November – they are the only two candidates running.

Maxwell is a very strong candidate and her deep understanding of the Renton community would bode well for her constituents in the state Legislature. But there are considerably more registered voters in the 41st District on Mercer Island than in Renton.

In other words, Maxwell needs considerable support from her natural base, the voters of Renton.

Still, don’t read too much into the primary results. Likely, the turnout will be low and the results not a true test of each candidate’s strengths. Voters’ minds are elsewhere and the candidates’ big push is yet to come.

What’s important and what will become apparent in the next few weeks is what each candidate brings to the table.

Obviously, this reads as an endorsement for Maxwell. She has proven herself a competent community leader in a number of endeavors in the city, from schools to business to the Rotary Club. Still, the Renton Reporter will go through a formal endorsement process in this particular legislative race.

We want to hear what Litzow has to say about his views and assess his understanding of Renton. And while party affiliation isn’t a factor in this primary, it’s good to know that Maxwell prefers the Democratic Party and Litzow the Republican Party.

I don’t see the state Legislature turning Republican any time soon, so what Renton needs is a member of the majority party who can get things done for Renton in Olympia.

Any political candidate comes with ideological underpinnings. Those beliefs exist, even if they aren’t wearing a political pin.