Re-elect state Sen. Derek Kilmer

THE Seattle Times restates its endorsement of state Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor.

Kilmer has been a vote for moderation. In a year in which the Democratic caucus went for $800 million in tax increases, he bucked party leaders by voting no on the increases, except for the tax on cigarettes, and against the final budget. That shows his independence.

Every candidate this year is talking about jobs. Kilmer knows jobs. He trained with the national business consultancy McKinsey & Co., and now is vice president of the Economic Development Board of Tacoma-Pierce County. He knows what policies would attract companies to Washington, and what would repel them — valuable knowledge in Olympia.

Kilmer is a graduate of Princeton and Oxford, which makes him one of the best-educated Democrats in the Legislature. He has moved up rapidly. After serving a term in the House, he was elected to the Senate four years ago.

In his single term, he has become one of the Senate's strongest supporters of higher education and is chairman of the key committee, Higher Education and Workforce Development. He has pushed legislation to give the state universities more control over tuition, which they need, coupled with provisions for increased scholarships, which the public — students — will need.

Kilmer has built a strong campaign, raising more than $320,000, with many contributions from statewide industry (aerospace, telecom, utilities, insurance, biotech), labor (teachers, electrical workers) and the tribes.

His Republican opponent, real-estate broker and political novice Marty McClendon, has raised less than 1/15th as much. While we do not automatically endorse the top money-raiser, a candidate who does not undertake to raise a competitive amount is not serious.

Voters of the 26th Legislative District should re-elect Derek Kilmer.