Anyone who chooses to run against Mayor Denis Law this year had better bring his or her A game to the campaign.

This is not a political anointment. It is fair warning that Law hasn’t added any political baggage to what little he had when he first ran for mayor in 2007, winning easily.

What he has done is mend fences with key partners in the community, recognize that government has fundamentally changed and make providing services as efficiently as possible the city’s new mantra.

Law with his extensive background in private business was the right person to embrace and then make for the City of Renton the tough decisions facing businesses everywhere that have to live within their means during the great recession.

So, Law is a formidable candidate. But he says he’d be shocked if an opponent doesn’t file to run against him. It would certainly be a disservice to Renton and its citizens if Law didn’t have to rigorously explain or defend his budgetary policies that while harsh for some have ensured the City of Renton can still serve its residents.

Law welcomes the scrutiny. In fact he almost demands it.

Of course, it’s the City Council that adopts the budget. But the heavy lifting in developing the budget is done by Law and his department heads. The city also has a business plan that spells out its priorities most deserving of funding.

Law is confident that the city’s first two-year budget with its eye-popping number – about a half-billion dollars – is sustainable over its lifespan.

But it’s not just the recession and efficiently shepherding the city’s resources for the next two years that will consume the mayor and City Council. Voters need to judge Law and council members on their positions on a whole array of issues. Renton is not a simple place.

Renton is still poised to grow, through annexations large and small. All of Fairwood said no to annexation in November but smaller pieces of Fairwood are making overtures to the city to annex. In 2012, the voters of West Hill will decide whether to annex to Renton.

The West Hill annexation in particular could have far-reaching effects on the city’s budget and its citizens if additional revenue isn’t found to pay for services and new infrastructure there.

Law won’t support West Hill annexation if it would degrade services to current residents. He may have the votes on the City Council now to reject the annexation. But not all on the council would vote with him.

So, it’s not just Law who has the city’s future in his hands. It’s the City Council, too. And there are four council members (a majority) up for re-election – Marcie Palmer, Don Persson, Greg Taylor and King Parker.

Like Law, they can’t get a bye in this year’s election. It’s a critical year when voters get to really think about the direction their leaders are taking them – and have the power to change that direction.