This piece originally appeared in The Seattle Times on Oct. 30, 1996

Seattle Times endorsement: 23rd Legislative district

Kitsap County, home turf to gubernatorial hopeful Ellen Craswell, also is experiencing three of the state's toughest legislative campaigns. Democrats in the 23rd District have fielded three of their best candidates in hopes of gaining ground on the GOP.

One-term incumbent Betti Sheldon, who replaced Craswell in 1992, deserves re-election to the Senate. Republican Steve Hargrove is giving up his House seat to run against her, but Sheldon is a business-minded Democrat who fits her district well. She supports growth management in an area plagued by uncontrolled sprawl and clogged roads. She supports full funding of schools while working for property-tax relief. She gets our endorsement.

On the House side, veteran Rep. Karen Schmidt is trying to fend off her toughest challenge ever. Schmidt is a 16-year Republican legislator who chairs the Transportation Committee, which is critical to her ferry-dependent district. But the district is overdue for a change and has a fine prospect in Democrat David Harrison, a University of Washington professor and Bainbridge Island School Board member. As an expert in public policy, Harrison understands the complexities of the legislative process -- a quality desperately needed in the Legislature. We urge his election.

In the other House race, longtime Democrat Paul Zellinsky is trying for a comeback -- this time as a Republican. He is a likable and moderate fellow, now retired from his car dealership in Bremerton. But we lean heavily to Phil Rockefeller, a bright and articulate lawyer who once served as an adviser to GOP Gov. John Spellman. He is now running as a Democrat.

A 25-year resident of the county, Rockefeller's broad experience in business, law, government and civic volunteerism should serve him well in Olympia, where he hopes to focus on public education.