Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett’s announcement Wednesday that he is seeking re-election for the county’s top spot sets up a Democratic showdown with his predecessor and a county lawmaker who has been critical of his spending.

Leggett is one of three candidates who have publicly and actively pursued the position. Former County Executive Doug Duncan, who served from 1994 to 2006, has said he will try to reclaim his old job, while County Councilman Phil Andrews, D-Gaithersburg/Rockville, is the only candidate to have filed paperwork for the race.