The Times endorses
On Eastside, Pflug, Anderson, Rodne

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The 5th Legislative District is ground zero for systems buckling from rapid growth.

Some of the district's Eastside school districts are among the most underfunded in the state, while transportation projects can't keep up with the quickly developing areas. The Seattle Times is endorsing the incumbents who have worked well together securing important transportation money for the district and who will continue to tinker with how to help their schools, reform health care and create jobs.

• The district's legislative delegation had an off-year shakeup with Sen. Dino Rossi's decision to resign and run for governor. But Rossi's successor, Cheryl Pflug, made a successful transition to the Senate from the House. That and her distinguished five-year record in the House merit re-election.

Pflug's background as a registered nurse is a plus as the state continues to wrestle with growing health-care issues. And, while on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, the Maple Valley Republican restored $50,000 to the supplemental budget to keep the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery operating through next July.

Her Democratic challenger, Sammamish Mayor Kathy Huckabay, is an accomplished public servant, but does not make a strong case for turning out an effective incumbent.

• Neither does Barbara de Michele, the former Issaquah School Board member who is challenging incumbent Rep. Glenn Anderson for House Position 1.

Anderson, R-Fall City, frets about the financial health of the school districts and sponsored an unsuccessful bill that would have permitted districts to raise more money with their levies — an important issue in the 5th District. He wants the state to reconsider its entire funding structure for education.

Democrat de Michele has some good ideas, such as encouraging more transit on the Eastside, but Anderson's experience gives him the edge.

• In House Position 2, Pflug's appointed replacement, Jay Rodne, deserves re-election after a first session working with his district's delegation on transportation funding. The Snoqualmie Republican wants to make state agencies more responsive to citizens.

His challenger, Democrat Jeff Griffin, is a compelling candidate who helped consolidate small fire departments into Eastside Fire and Rescue. But Rodne's sense of making government more effective and responsive makes a better case for the office.

(Tomorrow: Snohomish County legislative races)