Snohomish, North King legislative races: experience matters

Campaigns for the state Legislature in Snohomish County and the northern tier of King County often pit veteran incumbents against challengers with thin civic résumés and modest election support. Several races are uncontested.

The result is endorsement of solid, mostly familiar, experienced legislators. Given the expected revenue shortfalls in Olympia, and the serious budget cutting ahead, a roster of seasoned lawmakers is all-the-more important.

District 1 (Bothell, Woodinville, Montlake Terrance, Brier)

Stirred by recent, tragic assaults and murders, state Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, wants to learn more about state supervision of convicted criminals on probation, and to assess laws on involuntary commitments. McAuliffe, known for her work as chairwoman of the Senate's Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee, also serves on the Human Services & Corrections Committee. She is well-positioned to ask tough questions.

District 21 (Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mukilteo)

Democratic state Rep. Mary Helen Roberts, Position 1, should be returned to Olympia so she can keep poking and prodding officials over the adequacy of state foster-care programs. Roberts, a former Edmonds Community College trustee, is also a strong voice for higher education.

Rep. Marko Liias seeks election to the Position 2 House seat he was appointed to last January when four-term state representative Brian Sullivan was elected to the Snohomish County Council. Democrat Liias was elected to the Mukilteo City Council in 2005, and he takes that solid local experience to Olympia.

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

If a reasonable alternative existed, state Rep. Maralyn Chase would not be endorsed for re-election. Chase, from Shoreline, is a caricature of a liberal Democrat who operates on the partisan fringes, then safely returns to office. Republican Alex Rion is well-spoken, but with less than a year in the state, he is too new to the district and local politics to be a credible option.

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

Democratic state Rep. John McCoy looks at the bleak revenue numbers facing the 2009 Legislature mindful of lessons learned in the 2003 session, the last big downturn. All budget-balancing options are on the table for McCoy. He is needed for a fourth term. McCoy, general manager of the Tulalip Tribes Quil Ceda Village, is opposed by Cris Larson, an Everett High School teacher, running without party affiliation in his first race for office.

District 44 (Mill Creek, Lake Stevens, Marysville)

State Rep. Hans Dunshee, the Democrat in Position 1, is ready to lead. He chaired the House Capital Budget Committee before he moved to the House Appropriations Committee. He is a contender to direct the budget committee during a challenging session. Republican Larry Countryman, a former Snohomish City Council member, makes no case for replacing a power broker with a neophyte.

After John Lovick was elected Snohomish County sheriff, Democrat Liz Loomis, a former Snohomish mayor and City Council member, filled his Position 2 House seat. She is opposed by Republican Mike Hope, who lost twice to Dunshee. Hope, a Seattle policeman, local sports coach and private trainer, cannot match the political roots and experience laid down by Loomis.