The Times recommends: Re-elect Rep. Adam Smith in the 9th District

U.S. REP. Adam Smith, seeking his eight term from Washington's 9th District, draws enough heat from the right and the left to suggest his label as a moderate Democrat is about right.

He is endorsed for re-election because he is well positioned in Congress to take a hard look at military spending and its unambiguous role in reducing budget deficits.

Smith, whose district includes Puyallup, Federal Way, parts of Tacoma, Lakewood and Steilacoom, built a congressional résumé with long service on the Armed Services Committee, including his current chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, with a strong voice on major acquisitions.

Smith has worked on behalf of veterans, and the ties are real with Joint Base Lewis-McChord in his district. Looking out for the interests of the men and women in the military, and those who have served, does not preclude a tough, skeptical review of spending on everything from new jet fighters to outlays for tens of thousands of civilian contractors who help bloat Pentagon budgets.

Smith drew an interesting cross-section of challengers, but none made a compelling case for replacing him. Republican Dick Muri is a Pierce County councilman, who disagrees with Smith's support of health-care legislation and the financial-reform bill.

Others in the race include Republican Jim Postma, who ran against Smith in 2008, and Green Party member Roy Olson, a life-insurance actuary for the state.

The measure of Smith's success in his eighth term will be his role in ending two wars and cutting military spending.