The Times endorses
North of the lake, candidates for Olympia

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North of Lake Washington, in older communities with new subdivisions, these candidates are endorsed for the state Legislature:

1st Legislative District

(Includes parts of Bothell, Woodinville, Kirkland, Kenmore, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood)

• Democratic Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe is endorsed for another four-year term.

McAuliffe, the former chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee and now the committee's ranking minority member, has spent the past 12 years in the Legislature advocating for families and children. McAuliffe supports alternatives to passing the Washington Assessment of Student Learning — a graduation requirement for the class of 2008 — as long as the alternatives reflect the high academic standards set by the WASL.

Republican Jason Bontrager offers ideas such as local control for schools and additional lanes for highways, but offers little in the way of government or leadership experience.

• Incumbent Rep. Al O'Brien should be returned to the House in the Position 1 seat he has held for four terms. Democrat O'Brien — a 29-year Seattle Police department veteran — has focused his attention on criminal-justice issues. He supports treatment for nonviolent drug abusers as a less expensive and more productive alternative to prison.

Jeff Merrill, a former Bothell mayor, doesn't make the case for unseating O'Brien.

• Democrat Mark Ericks, retired Bothell chief of police, is the recommendation to fill House Position 2. He is a strong supporter of public education and has past experience dealing with large budgets and the needs of citizens.

Republican Joshua Freed , a Bothell marriage and family counselor, needs civic experience at the local level.

32nd Legislative District

(Which straddles King and Snohomish counties and includes Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Shoreline and Edmonds)

• Citizens in the 32nd are best served by returning Democratic Rep. Ruth Kagi to the Legislature.

Kagi, chairwoman of the House Children and Family Services Committee and a member of the Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee, has been a thoughtful advocate for children and families during her four terms. She has championed proposals aimed at improving the school performance of foster children, including a policy to keep foster children in their current schools.

Republican Margaret Wiggins is a member of the North Shore Water Commission.

CORRECTION: A Wednesday editorial had the wrong first name for Democrat Mike Sells, who was endorsed for 38th Legislative District, Position 2.