Judge, Bassett for Mercer Island

Two candidates deserve election to the Mercer Island City Council based on their collective acumen and service. Maureen Judge receives the endorsement for Position 3 and Bruce Bassett is best qualified for Position 5.

Judge is facing an excellent candidate in Mike Cero for the November ballot. For the second open seat, longtime Island resident Patti Darling faces a relative political newcomer, but a highly-qualified candidate in Bassett. Bassett has entered into the leadership cycle of Eastside communities, while Darling brings the weight of community administration and service to her candidacy.

Location is the island city's most direct influence on the region. A fraction the size of Bellevue or Renton, Mercer Island and its representatives play important roles in transportation, regional planning and cross-lake cooperation.

Judge and Bassett seem best-prepared for that role. The Island is ready for the next generation of leadership to step into the ranks of prominent Island voices of the past.

A glance at the town center, with its booming condos and businesses, is a look into the future of Mercer Island. With near-capacity on local roads and parking, with a new park-and-ride facility dominating the landscape south of Interstate 90, and with the rattle of old utilities framing future debates, the community needs energy and an infusion of new talent.