SurbaughSurbaughEilertEilertBy Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

At the annual State of the County Address in Johnson County today, I asked Annabeth Surbaugh and Ed Eilert the same question:

Will you run in 2010 to serve as chair of the Johnson County Commission?

The responses:

-- "There is no doubt about it, I am running," said Surbaugh, the current chair who is in her second term. She was first elected in 2002.

-- "I'm still thinking," said Eilert, the longtime Overland Park mayor who was elected to the County Commission in 2006.

Surbaugh did add that she won't start any overt campaigning until January of 2010, saying people are sick and tired of eternal campaigning (amen).

As for Eilert, he is widely expected to get in the race officially sometime this year.

If that happens, Surbaugh vs. Eilert would be a closely watched election in 2010, given the growing influence of the county in metro KC issues.