Editorial | For Seattle City Council, Position 8: Robert Rosencrantz and Jordan Royer

The good news for Seattle voters when a city-council seat opens up without a defending incumbent is that quality candidates come out in droves.

But their challenge is the extra work it takes to parse candidate statements and scrutinize positions to pick the best of an impressive field.

Such is the case with the six candidates vying to replace veteran Richard McIver, who is stepping down. Of the field, The Seattle Times editorial board is recommending two candidates: Robert Rosencrantz and Jordan Royer, both of whom offer a pragmatic approach that honors Seattle's environmental sensibilities while keeping an eye on how city policy affects families and housing affordability.

Rosencrantz is making his third run at city council after unsuccessful attempts in 2003 and 2005 against incumbents, the last time against McIver. This is his first run at an open seat and he warrants thorough consideration.

Rosencrantz's career and civic experiences are solid and cover important bases for Seattle.

He's a businessman and a tireless volunteer — a landlord who has parlayed that expertise to work for affordable housing and on the issue of homelessness. He's been a neighborhood advocate — serving as president of the Montlake Community Council — and now part of a group working with the state to help that neighborhood be part of a solution to the Seattle landing of the Highway 520 bridge rebuild.

Voters will recognize the other candidate's name — his father Charles Royer was mayor for three terms until 1990. But Jordan Royer has earned serious consideration from voters on his own merits.

He has worked for two Seattle mayors — current Mayor Greg Nickels as senior adviser on public safety and Paul Schell — and before that for U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. For the past two years, he has been the government-affairs manager for the Seattle office of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association.

Public safety of Seattle citizens remains a high priority for Royer as a candidate. And his work for the shipping association shows he understands the importance of trade and a vibrant marine industry to Seattle's past and future.

Rosencrantz and Royer are our recommendations for Seattle City Council Position 9.