The Times recommends . . .

U.S. Senate

Washington has two fully qualified choices for the Senate, incumbent Sen. Maria Cantwell and her Republican challenger, Mike McGavick, who is the better choice. He is an unusual businessman-politician who managed the remarkable turnaround of Safeco Corporation, sacrificing some jobs and saving others. He knows the political world, having worked for Sen. Slade Gorton. Part of the reason for the endorsement is McGavick's support of elimination of the federal estate tax. But that is not the only reason. We believe strongly McGavick has the potential to be an innovative and influential senator for our state.

U.S. House

1st District: Democratic incumbent Rep. Jay Inslee is a clear choice for re-election. Inslee has solid environmental credentials, is an experienced legislator and represents his district well. His challenger, Republican Larry Ishmael, recently moved to the district but has local experience as a former member of the Issaquah School Board. Ishmael is simply too new to the field to replace Inslee.

2nd District: Democratic incumbent Rep. Rick Larsen has a solid base of congressional experience and committee assignments that well-serve the trade, military and agricultural interests of the district. He is an easy endorsement for re-election. His opponent is a former Navy captain who retired to Snohomish after commanding aircraft carriers. Doug Roulstone had a distinguished military career, and he has created jobs in the private sector and has been a community volunteer.

3rd District: Rep. Brian Baird, the incumbent Democrat, has done a good job working across the aisle on a number of issues. He has been an impressive leader in the effort to allow sales taxes to be deducted from federal filings. He is the right person to continue to lead that fight because the two-year break ends this year. Baird has been anti-Iraq war from the start — thoughtfully so.

5th District: Rep. Cathy McMorris is endorsed because she is a good fit for her conservative district. Her knowledge of federal issues has improved dramatically the past two years. Shortly after taking office, she was asked to lead the Task Force on Improving and Strengthening the National Environmental Policy Act and she has secured a seat on the Armed Services Committee. McMorris is bound to gain more traction in Congress and we would like to see her become a more autonomous Republican.

8th District: There is compelling reason for change in the U.S. Congress but the case to replace Rep. Dave Reichert has not been made. Reichert ought to be returned. The former King County sheriff has an impressive three-decade record of public service and has demonstrated a conscience-driven independent streak that reflects his moderate district. He bucked his party on the hideous Terri Schiavo spectacle. He opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. His opponent, Darcy Burner, a well-spoken Democrat, has too thin a résumé to replace him.

Initiatives

Initiative 920: Yes on repealing the state estate tax.

The tax hurts family businesses and raises only a tiny amount of money. The tax takes nothing for decades and then lands like a meteor on a business owner but not on his competitors. I-920 repeals the estate tax passed by the Legislature in 2005. The tax imposes rates of 10 percent to 19 percent of assets above $2 million, and does not apply to assets used in farming. The money, about $100 million a year, goes into the Education Legacy Trust Fund, but it is not worth the economic and social impacts.

Initiative 933: No on the so-called Property Fairness Act.

This proposal is an expensive hoax as native to Washington as palm trees. The initiative is part of a national movement to trash land-use laws by substituting vague, ambiguous language, creating the opportunity to bankrupt local treasuries if officials do not capitulate and agree to cooperate. This measure throws away all the predictability and certainty that comes from zoning and land-use regulations. This is highly unrecommended public policy.

Initiative 937: No on the renewable-energy initiative.

This measure sounds good at first because it is all about forward-thinking alternative energy, wind power and the like. But the measure is poorly drafted because it will inflate power rates and cost jobs in a state economy built on low-cost power. I-937 would establish renewable energy targets for private and public utilities serving more than 25,000 customers. Bizarrely, the initiative leaves out one of the Northwest's most important renewable energy sources, hydropower. Reject I-937.

House Joint Resolution 4223: Personal property tax exemption. Yes.

Judges

×Stephen Johnson for state Supreme Court.

×Frank LaSalata, King County District Court.

Legislature

Numerous state Legislature races around the Puget Sound area:

District 1 (Bothell, Woodinville, Mountlake Terrace, Brier)

×Rep. Mark Ericks, Democrat, House Position 2.

District 23 (Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, Kingston, Silverdale and parts of Bremerton)

×Rep. Sherry Appleton, Democrat, House Position 1.

×Rep. Beverly Woods, Republican, House Position 2.

District 26 (Port Orchard, parts of Bremerton, southern Kitsap County, Gig Harbor and the Key Peninsula)

×Rep. Derek Kilmer, Democrat, Senate.

×Rep. Patricia Lantz, Democrat, House Position 1.

×Larry Seaquist, Democrat, House Position 2.

District 30 (Federal Way, Milton, Algona, Pacific)

×Sen. Tracey Eide, Democrat, Senate.

×Rep. Mark Miloscia, Democrat, House Position 1.

×Rep. Skip Priest, Republican, House Position 2.

District 31 (Auburn, Bonney Lake, Buckley, Enumclaw, Edgewood, Sumner, Greenwater, Lake Tapps)

×Yvonne Ward, Democrat, Senate.

× Rep. Dan Roach, Republican, House Position 1.

× Rep. Jan Shabro, Republican, House Position 2.

District 32 (Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Shoreline, Edmonds, Woodway)

×Sen. Darlene Fairley, Democrat, Senate.

× Rep. Maralyn Chase, Democrat, House Position 1.

× Rep. Ruth Kagi, Democrat, House Position 2.

District 33 (SeaTac, Des Moines, Normandy Park, parts of Kent and Tukwila)

×Sen. Karen Keiser, Democrat, Senate.

×Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, Democrat, House Position 1.

District 38 (Everett, Marysville, Snohomish Valley west of Highway 9)

×Rep. John McCoy, Democrat, House Position 1.

District 39 (Skykomish, Granite Falls, Arlington, Concrete)

×Rep. Dan Kristiansen, Republican, House Position 1.

District 41 (Mercer Island, Bellevue, Newcastle)

×Rep. Fred Jarrett, Republican, House Position 1.

× Rep. Judy Clibborn, Democrat, House Position 2.

District 43 (Seattle)

× Rep. Ed Murray, Democrat, Senate.

District 44 (Mill Creek, Lake Stevens, Marysville)

×Sen. Dave Schmidt, Republican, Senate.

× Rep. Hans Dunshee, Democrat, House Position 1.

× Rep. John Lovick, Democrat, House Position 2.

District 45 (Kirkland, Redmond, Duval and Carnation)

×Rep. Toby Nixon, Republican, Senate.

× Jeffrey Possinger, Republican, House Position 1.

×Rep. Larry Springer, Democrat, House Position 2.

District 47 (Black Diamond and parts of Kent and Renton)

×Claudia Kauffman, Democrat, Senate.

× Rep. Geoff Simspon, Democrat, House Position 1.

× Rep. Patrick Sullivan, Democrat, House Position 2.

District 48 (Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond)

× Rep. Rodney Tom, Democrat, Senate.

× Rep. Ross Hunter, Democrat, House Position 1.

×Deb Eddy, Democrat, House Position 2.

King County Proposition 2: expanded bus service. Yes.

Seattle Referendum 1: the 4-foot rule for strip clubs. Yes.

Seattle Charter Amendments: No on Amendments 8, 9 and 10 shrinking the term of the auditor from six years to four years and giving the City Council power to remove key department heads every four years.

Seattle Proposition 1: roads and bridges levy. No.

Seattle Initiative 91: sports organizations. No.