Dunshee, Hope in 44th; re-elect McCoy in 38th

Hans Dunshee isn't shy about telling people what he thinks. As Snohomish County's most senior member of the state House of Representatives, he has become an increasingly effective advocate for things he and his constituents care about -- clean air and water, adequate funding for schools, and the creation of a four-year university campus in the county.

Now he's in contention to become chairman of the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee, where he has most recently served as vice chair to Helen Somers, who is retiring. That bodes well for moving closer to landing a University of Washington branch campus, an effort Dunshee has led in the House along with Everett Democrat Mike Sells. Voters in the 44th District -- which includes Lake Stevens, Snohomish and parts of Mill Creek, Everett and Marysville -- should take advantage by sending the straight-talking Dunshee back to Olympia for an eighth two-year term.

Early in his legislative career, Dunshee earned a reputation for being unnecessarily bombastic. He's mellowed considerably since then, and proved himself an effective leader as chair of the House Capital Budget Committee, where he served until moving to Appropriations. He has learned and bought into the art of compromise, but without sacrificing his principles. That legislative maturity allows him to stand up for what he believes in, but within the parameters of reasonable give and take.

The Snohomish Democrat is being challenged for his Position 1 seat by former Snohomish City Councilman Larry Countryman, who has tangled with Dunshee in the past. We think the district is best served by Dunshee's leadership, legislative experience and seniority, and unquestioned work ethic.

The race for Position 2, in our view, is a much closer call. Democrat Liz Loomis, who was appointed to replace John Lovick after Lovick was elected Snohomish County sheriff last year, is being challenged by Mike Hope, a Republican who lost to Dunshee in 2004 and 2006.

Hope gets our nod for two primary reasons: He would add a strong and useful voice for spending restraint, and as a Seattle police officer would restore a law enforcement perspective that was lost when Lovick left the Legislature.

Having run twice before, Hope has a good grasp of the issues facing the Legislature. He makes a point of his willingness to work across the aisle, and so does Loomis. But doing so as a member of the minority party, if Hope follows through on the pledge, could be extremely helpful to the district. Dave Schmidt, a Republican who served the 44th in the Senate until he was defeated two years ago, won more than $100 million in improvements to Highway 9 by voting with Democrats on the 2005 gas-tax package.

If he's able to spot and seize such opportunities, Hope could be a successful lawmaker. We think voters should give him a chance and see how he does.

Our endorsement of Hope isn't a condemnation of Loomis, a former Snohomish mayor and city council member who seemed to serve ably during her first legislative session. Her background in local government shows that she's capable of delivering results. This swing district may be better served, though, by having a wider variety of viewpoints in its legislative delegation.



38th DISTRICT

Rep. John McCoy of Tulalip deserves a fourth term. He chairs the House Technology, Energy and Communications Committee, taking advantage of his background working in information technology at the White House. As general manager of the Tulalip Tribes' Quil Ceda Village, he understands business issues well and how state government can help or hinder business success and job creation.

McCoy is challenged by Cris Larson, an Everett High School English teacher making a first run at public office. Larson has no political affiliation, but seems much closer to being a Democrat than a Republican. He largely agrees with McCoy on key issues, and likes the work McCoy has done. He says he's running because he saw too few sitting lawmakers being challenged for re-election.

Larson is clearly a passionate man, and brings good ideas to the table, like easing prison overcrowding by finding effective alternatives for non-violent offenders -- an issue where he and McCoy see eye to eye.

We think Larson could have a political future, but that learning at the local level first could make him a more effective legislative candidate down the road.

Democratic Rep. Mike Sells, who is emerging as an effective leader after two terms, is running unopposed.