The Times endorses Glenn Anderson in the 5th Legislative District

THE 5th Legislative District is a sprawling swath that includes suburban enclaves, rural communities and numerous small and independently owned businesses. Voters are best served by political leadership committed to restrained spending and targeted priorities.

So it is an easy call for The Seattle Times editorial board to endorse Rep. Glenn Anderson, one of a handful of lawmakers in Olympia who has long advocated for responsible state government spending.

The Fall City Republican has two Democratic challengers: Dean Willard, a Sammamish information technology consultant and former T-Mobile executive, and David Spring, an educator and resident of North Bend.

Spring narrowly lost to Anderson in the 2008 general election with a platform largely centered on education. Willard touts a tax-reform platform that includes repealing the business-and-occupation tax.

All three candidates want to create jobs.

Anderson's focus on small businesses is matched by a proven track record. He has been awarded the "Guardian of Small Business" award by the nation's largest coalition of small businesses every biennium since joining the Legislature a decade ago.

Public schools must be the state's top spending priority. Anderson is persuasive in arguing for renewed focus on finding money within existing education budgets.

He has done it before. When the Issaquah School District appealed to the Legislature for financial help with its robotics program, Anderson helped carve funds from existing education funding pots.

Anderson's political independence was on display recently when he was the sole GOP House member to sign a bill calling for public disclosure of signatures on initiatives.

He has earned a sixth term to represent the 5th District, which includes Issaquah, North Bend and Snoqualmie, as well as parts of Sammamish, Renton and unincorporated King County.