Seattle Times Endorses Locke For Governor
Democrat Gary Locke has been endorsed for governor by the state’s largest newspaper, The Seattle Times.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has endorsed Terry Bergeson for superintendent of public instruction, Christine Gregoire for attorney general, Ralph Munro for secretary of state and Mike Murphy for treasurer.
The endorsements appeared in the newspapers’ jointly published today’s editions.
In choosing Locke over Republican Ellen Craswell, the Times said he “has served a solid apprenticeship for the complex job he seeks.” In contrast, Craswell “is unprepared to be the state’s chief executive, even with her 16 years in the Legislature.”
The Times said Locke became familiar with the workings of state government when he wrote five budgets as chairman of the state House Ways and Means Committee, and that Locke has weathered the transition to administrative duties as King County executive.
If elected, Locke would need to carefully choose advisers and staff to make up for a lack of private-sector experience, the Times said. “He should talk more about privatization and reinventing government; these are not fads or theories any more, they are taxpayer expectations.”
The choice between Locke and Craswell “is stark,” the newspaper said.
“Craswell is campaigning to lead a Christian theocracy; to be God’s vicar in charge of state government. Craswell carefully says she supports everyone’s right to worship as they please, and she is sincere. And yet, she is eager to interpret God’s plan for the rest of us but is unprepared to be governor.”
The Times said Craswell “attributes a vast lack of knowledge about state government and a dearth of ideas and positions on topical issues to her 22 months of campaigning. She is articulate on religious matters, but relies on fractured anecdotes, hazy memories and garbled facts to address policy questions.”
In picking Bergeson, the Post-Intelligencer called her opponent, Ron Taber, a “millionaire extremist” who is on the ballot “only because of his willingness to spend huge sums of his own money to buy the office.”
Bergeson, the newspaper said, has proven to be an outstanding educator in 30 years experience in the public schools, and “a forceful, energetic advocate for children.”
Incumbent Democrat Gregoire has won the right to a second term as attorney general by becoming “one of the state’s most capable and respected office holders,” the P-I said. In contrast, her opponent, attorney Richard Pope, “is a sole practitioner and gadfly.”
Republican Munro is “a tirelessly upbeat promoter of the Evergreen State,” the newspaper said.
Democrat Phyllis Kenney “is a worthy opponent, one who should be encouraged to seek elected office again in the future.”
But Munro, secretary of state since 1980, deserves another term because of his efforts to promote the state, attract foreign investment, and increase voter participation, the P-I said.
The P-I said Murphy and his Republican opponent for treasurer, Lucy De Young, both are capable candidates, but Murphy has the edge because of his years of experience as Thurston County treasurer.