From the day in January when the Republican majority on the Snohomish County Council appointed David Simpson to fill a vacancy in the state House of Representatives from the 38th District, a challenge has been brewing.
Now voters in Everett, Marysville and Tulalip get to decide whether Simpson, a former Everett City Council member, or Mike Sells, secretary-treasurer of the Snohomish County Labor Council, will represent the Democratic Party on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.
Sells, because he has a surer and deeper grasp of the issues facing the state, is the superior choice to face Republican Erv Hoglund in November. Hoglund is running unopposed in the primary.
Simpson was appointed to the seat over the objection of his party, which preferred Sells. The council vote was 3-2, with Democrats Kirke Sievers and Dave Gossett voting against Simpson. Speculation was rife that the council majority had appointed the weaker candidate in an effort to give the GOP a better chance of winning the seat this year. Whether that’s the case remains speculative, but it’s clear when interviewing the candidates side-by-side that Sells is the stronger of the two.
He denies that he will toe the labor line in Olympia, and he’ll have to be convincing on that score if he advances. The longtime school teacher does have a history of working cooperatively with business interests on economic development and education issues, so we give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
This editorial board has endorsed Simpson in the past, recognizing his deep commitment to the people he serves and his strong work ethic. We would like to see him stay involved in public service if he isn’t elected to this position.
In the Democratic primary for the district’s other House seat, one-term incumbent John McCoy is an easy choice over challenger Randall Rike. McCoy is a strong advocate for programs that offer safe, positive alternatives for at-risk youth, and is a strong voice for needed transportation improvements in Snohomish County.
Voters should send McCoy to what promises to be an interesting and spirited general-election campaign against Kim Halvorson, who is the only Republican running for the seat.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
