January 20. May 4. November 2.

All in 2010.

Those are the critical dates facing candidates in next year’s elections; the days when they can declare their candidacy, run in the primary election and, perhaps, run in the general election.

This week, Kim Builta announced her intent to run as a Republican and unseat Democrat Terri Austin in Indiana House Dist. 36. Builta’s announcement came on Nov. 2, a year before the general election when the two could meet as challengers.

Others will start making their announcements, leading hopefully to good, clean debates.

In general, there’s plentiful lists of qualifications Hoosiers expect to see during the coming year.

Of course, the list would include business-like skills of good leadership, the ability to communicate and direct, and finding ways to inspire confidence.

Character is tops.

“Ability may get you to the top but it takes character to keep you there,” said Indiana-born former UCLA coach John Wooden.

But candidates, and politicians, should be more compassionate than traditional traits of a successful business leader.

They need to pay attention. To the constituents, lending an ear to each and every one.

Our politicians must serve us.

“Good leaders must first become good servants,” noted Indiana-born Robert Greenleaf, who coined the phrase “servant leadership.”

Any Madison County resident can tell a politician that the top concerns are, as our population here ages, the topics of money, jobs and health care.

Candidates should gear their debates to solutions and answers. No politician has the end-all solution to any of these. That’s why Hoosiers don’t want to hear of bickering or cronyism.