Two Fort Lauderdale lawyers have announced they plan to run for Broward County public defender when Howard Finkelstein leaves office.

You'd be forgiven for not paying much attention to the race yet — Finkelstein isn't set to retire until 2020.

Chief assistant public defender Gordon Weekes and criminal defense attorney Jim Lewis threw their hats into the ring in the past week. Weekes filed to run June 7, and Lewis said Tuesday his paperwork was on its way to Tallahassee. Both said they will run as Democrats.