While most local primary races offer somewhat easy choices, voters and the East Oregonian editorial board are facing hard decisions as the May 15 primary looms.

Among those tough races is the one for state attorney general. Since there are no Republican candidates, the decision of voters next month will decide the race.

The two candidates Dwight Holton and Ellen Rosenblum are each distinctly qualified in significantly different ways.

Holton, 45, is the former acting U.S. attorney for Oregon. Holton has the endorsement of 56 Oregon sheriffs and district attorneys including Umatilla County District Attorney Dan Primus, Morrow County District Attorney Justin Nelson, Umatilla County Sheriff John Trumbo and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Hes spent 15 years as a federal prosecutor and, perhaps critical to the daunting task of Oregon AG, hes successfully managed the U.S. Attorneys office in Portland.

As he told us during a visit to Pendleton last month, he managed 115 people in offices around the state with an $11 million budget. He led the federal legal team that filed, investigated, prosecuted and litigated 600-700 criminal cases each year and managed litigation of more than 800 civil cases annually.

By the way, he got the endorsement of the Oregon Education Association by more than a 3-1 margin.

Rosenblum, 61, has been an Oregon Court of Appeals judge since 2005 and spent 22 years as a state court judge. She also had eight years as a federal prosecutor. Her most notable endorsements include former Gov. Barbara Roberts and former attorney generals Dave Frohnmayer and Hardy Myers and the backing from one of the states big public employee unions, the Association of Federal, State, County and Municipal Employees Council 75.

Rosenblum, who is seeking to be our states first woman AG, is a candidate who appeals to disadvantaged young and old Oregonians.

I want to be an advocate for the most vulnerable citizens including children and families, seniors and small businesses, she told the East Oregonian recently. I also want to represent the entire state and not just the valley. Her priorities reflect that attitude: families and children; consumer protection, especially for vulnerable seniors; public safety; and serving as the advisor and lawyer for public agencies.

The bottom line: Oregonians cant go wrong, no matter which candidate they vote for in this important race.

Both are moderate Democrats, who largely share similar viewpoints on many issues. Both are highly qualified, with sound legal minds.

Consider the remarks of Marc Abrams, an Oregon Department of Justice lawyer, last month in The Oregonian:

I think either of these candidates could be a good Attorney General, Abrams said. This is a race that offers an interesting contrast in experience. But I think they’re both dedicated to delivering the law at the highest level and encouraging the best people to work at the DOJ.

There are some other issues voters need to consider before marking their ballot.

Perhaps the elephant in the room is a web of not-so-subtle political intrigue.

Rosenblum has said shes the true-blue Oregon candidate, who has no higher political ambitions. A University of Oregon graduate, Rosenblum said she intends to remain in our state.

I have an ambitious vision for the office (of Attorney General), she told The Oregonians Jeff Manning. But its not a stepping-stone type ambition.

Thats a subtle jab at Holton.

Some political wags charge Holton is a politically ambitious candidate and point critically to the largely unremarkable tenure of Attorney General John Kroger, who seemed focused on the ultimate goal of becoming governor (until an unidentified health issues forced him to announce he would not seek reelection).

Holton, after all, is the son of a former governor of Virginia and the brother-in-law of Tim Kaine, another former Virginia governor and chair of the Democratic National Committee.

So, its possible he may ultimately seek higher office in Oregon or nationally. But that is not a disqualifying consideration.

Because of his management experience, Holton might be a much-needed administrator for the Department of Justice. Rosenblum has an edge with her local connections within the state justice system. Either will be better than John Kroger.

Take your pick. You really cant go wrong.