This piece originally appeared in The Seattle Times on Oct. 14, 1996

Seattle Times endorsements: Jeri Costa, Pat Scott, Jerry Blanton, Renee Radcliff

Southwest Snohomish County has assembled a solid, bipartisan group of state legislators. Despite some interesting challengers, we urge voters to stick with their incumbents.

Jeri Costa, a one-term Democrat from the 38th district in Everett, faces a strong challenge in Republican Doug Campbell, a contractor and Everett city councilman. Campbell's experience with urban issues would be valuable in the GOP, but Costa had a fine first term, recruiting bipartisan support for her five bills despite being in a minority. She deserves a second term.

Five-term 38th district Democrat Pat Scott would have been a better target for Campbell; she has little to show for 10 years. But Republican Mike Floyd is an angry former businessman who shows no promise of improvement. Scott will be forced out by term limits in 1998; she's worthy of one more term.

Jerry Blanton, a 21st district Republican from Edmonds, proved to be a moderate, pro-business voice in his GOP caucus, and should be returned. Democrat Mike Cooper is a firefighter and a good candidate, but Blanton's easygoing style reflects his suburban district well.

Renee Radcliff, the other freshman Republican from the 21st, had a fine first term and is unopposed for re-election.