Citizen Northwest
home page

Election
calendar

Races/
candidates

Initiatives/
propositions

Times
endorsements

Political
matchmaker

Front Porch
Forum

Election
results

Political
primer

Test your
voting smarts

Student
projects

Election
links

Credits

The congressional experience of two Republican freshmen -- Rick White and Randy Tate -- is in many respects the tale of the Republican Revolution of 1994. The headstrong zeal of that freshman class was understandable and healthy. In two years, one young politician grew and confronted the complexities of being an effective legislator, the other did not.

1st district| 7th district| 8th district| 9th district|

1st District

During his freshman term, Rick White has distinguished himself as a quick learner and independent voice. Voters in the 1st District, which encompasses Bellevue and Redmond, the suburbs of north King and Snohomish counties, and the rural inlets of the Kitsap Peninsula, should send him back enthusiastically.

Two years ago, we had our doubts about White's ability to handle complex policy issues. White had not held elective office; his rhetorical arsenal was limited to Contract with America sound bites.

But with the help of a bright and able staff, the young lawyer-turned-congressman has mastered knotty areas such as the Internet, trade, and telecommunications to the satisfaction of his high-tech constituents.

White shows promise of becoming a thoughtful conservative. He has been willing to buck GOP conventional wisdom and gimmickry. He was one of 12 Republicans who voted against a politically popular bill to clutter the U.S. Constitution with an amendment to ban flag-burning. He voted against an expedient partisan measure to repeal the gas tax without cutting spending. And he voted to delete 17 infamous riders to an appropriations bill that would have restricted the Environmental Protection Agency's enforcement powers.

Democrat challenger Jeffrey Coopersmith, like White, is a young lawyer from a wealthy family. He too preaches leaner, smarter government, but his policy proposals -- more spending on job training, deep cuts in defense spending to balance the budget -- reveal no new thinking. Coopersmith acknowledges that many federal environmental regulations are costly and inefficient, yet lambastes White's support of regulatory reform that would require cost-benefit analyses and give states more flexibility. His bashing of White as an extremist is shrill and tiresome.

So is his equivocation. In a Times editorial interview, Coopersmith endorsed means-testing of Social Security. In an AFL-CIO questionnaire, however, he stated opposition to means-testing of any entitlement programs ``wherever possible.'' Coopersmith may be a bright and competitive campaigner, but he lacks the substance, sincerity and finesse to represent this district well.

White is an easy choice.

7th District

Seattle Rep. Jim McDermott likewise gets our endorsement. He is a bright, experienced lawmaker whose 7th District is a safe, liberal Democratic haven. He has used that security and independence for a lonely, principled stand on health care. His party trusts him with a tough assignment on the House Ethics Committee, which offers the national exposure no politician covets. The danger for a hard-working, big-picture McDermott is losing touch at home.

8th District

Two veteran lawmakers also are up for re-election. Jennifer Dunn, whose 8th District ranges from Bellevue to rural Pierce County, has risen quickly in Republican leadership. Dunn is a smart conservative who articulates the politics of the Eastside. While she embraced the Contract with America, she also worked hard on issues such as women's health, Social Security reform and the concerns of communities around Mount Rainier. She clearly deserves re-election.

9th District

For voters in the 9th District who care about a clean environment, thoughtful budget-cutting and issues that fuel the gender gap, having Randy Tate in Congress is like not being represented at all. What Tate does excel at is raising money -- more than $890,000.

Voters in the 9th District, which takes in parts of King, Pierce and Thurston counties, have an able alternative in Democrat Adam Smith.

Smith, a prosecuting attorney, has a demonstrated record of achievement as a two-term state senator from Kent, elected in 1990. As chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, Smith led his Democratic colleagues with tough stands on crime. On other issues, he's been a social moderate, placing a lot of emphasis on personal responsibility. His approach to welfare reform focuses on work, child care and child-support enforcement. Smith has been very cognizant of protecting children and minors from inappropriate and indecent material. Smith never tacked away from his own strongly held values.

He is running on a platform of deficit reduction, but is not willing to buy into a false solution like the balanced-budget amendment.

Tate has left no fingerprints in Congress, other than on the canapes at fund-raisers. He touts a vote to end ethanol subsidies as a measure of independence, but neglects to mention taking campaign contributions from the competing methanol interests.

Tate is the same fellow who went East two years ago, untouched by the gravity of the issues facing his country and his constituents. Through Democrat Adam Smith, the 9th will, once again, have a voice in Congress.