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The school year begins, the rain starts falling, the days grow shorter, and suddenly you are holding a ballot in your hands with a bunch of names on it you've never heard of, running for offices you didn't even know existed.
Relax. While you were at the beach, we spent all summer locked in sweaty, dark rooms with candidates.
There is no presidential election this year, no governor's race, not even any seats in Washington's congressional delegation that are competitive, but there is a lot of important stuff on this ballot.
The ballot begins by making us choose one of the nine guardians of our precious state constitution—a new justice for state Supreme Court—and ends by asking us to do something to address our terrible housing crisis—the Seattle Housing Levy. Those two races alone would make voting a vital exercise, but there's more in between. Here's our extended cheat sheet for Seattle-area races with Web links to more coverage for particular contests.
We have endorsed candidates only in contested primaries.
WASHINGTON STATE SUPREME COURT
Six-year terms; the top two vote-getters advance to November's general election, unless someone wins it all by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote.
POSITION 3
An open seat; incumbent Justice Charles Z. Smith is retiring.
* Our choice: King County Superior Court Judge Michael Spearman makes this race no contest. Spearman combines the insider strength of 10 years of judicial experience and more than 100 endorsements from other judges with a clear understanding that the post-Sept. 11 political climate demands eternal vigilance from our judicial branch against any who would weaken our constitution in order to "save" our freedom.
The other choices: Jim Johnson is a passionate conservative we might choose to defend our property or voting rights, but he isn't our first choice for being a judge. Stan Morse wins the award for the most interesting r鳵m鬠including writing about world travels in a wheelchair, but he doesn't seem all that engaged by the law. Mary Fairhurst's career as a prosecutor in the attorney general's civil division is fine public service, but it doesn't inspire us to vote for her.
www.seattleweekly.com/features/0236/news-howland.shtml
www.seattleweekly.com/features/0231/news-howland.shtml
POSITION 4
* Our choice: Stick with the incumbent, Charles W. Johnson. Twelve years ago, an unknown Johnson shocked the legal community by beating a sitting chief justice. Since then, he has proven himself up to the task, winning praise from a wide variety of legal observers on all sides of the courtroom.
The others: Doug Schafer is on a worthy crusade to improve the ethics of the legal system, but a Supreme Court race is a lousy place to wage it. Pamela Loginsky believes Johnson has been too slow in considering rule changes regarding speedy trials. We prefer that our highest court be deliberative.
WASHINGTON STATE COURT OF APPEALS
A six-year term; the primary winner's name will appear alone on November's ballot.
DIVISION 1, DISTRICT 1, POSITION 5
* Our choice: This race is so one-sided it's scary. The incumbent, Judge H. Joseph Coleman, has been a judge for 26 years, including 18 in this position. Former Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge calls him "one of the best jurists in the state." Spending time with Coleman, one comes away with serious respect for his legal intellect and his engagement with the law.
The other choice: Jeanette Burrage performed poorly as a King County Superior Court judge, earning special infamy for threatening to sanction women lawyers who didn't wear skirts. There's no credible case for promoting her.
www.seattleweekly.com/features/0235/news-howland.shtml
WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE
Representatives serve two years; senators serve four. In the Seattle area, the Democratic Party is so dominant that the victor in the Democratic primary is practically assured of election in November.
11TH DISTRICT (BEACON HILL, RENTON, TUKWILA)
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
* Our choice: Send Natalie Reber back to Olympia, this time as a legislator. Reber, a lobbyist for the Girl Scouts and public interests, combines an insider's knowledge with a deep commitment to social services and gender justice that is irresistible. We think she will be a voice for the voiceless that other legislators will actually enjoy listening to.
The other choices: Roger Valdez has the intellect and experience to make a fine lawmaker but he doesn't seem to want the job all that much. Zack Hudgins is a well-meaning, connected, hardworking, ambitious young pol, so his "I'm-just-an-average-working-stiff" message strains our credulity. Azziem Underwood and Robin Jones are not serious competitors.
www.seattleweekly.com/features/0233/news-howland.shtml
32ND DISTRICT (SHORELINE, EDMONDS, LAKE FOREST PARK)
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
* Our choice: We're with Maralyn Chase when it comes to the stewardship of our urban environment, the need for comprehensive tax reform, and protecting our state's small businesses. Since Chase wears her heart on her sleeve and shoots from the hip, she can appear at times in danger of mortally wounding herself. But ultimately her deep roots in activism for peace and social justice will keep her grounded.
The other choice: Nobody can question Kevin Grossman's work ethic or good intentions as a local official in Shoreline. He does, however, appear to have a terrible blind spot about the rights of his opponents to use the system to fight against his efforts.
