Voter, Candidate Missions Important

When the Spokesman-Review editorial board set out to evaluate the leading issues in Spokane County’s primary election Tuesday, we (like the voters) faced a daunting list: More than two dozen candidates. Two major ballot propositions. This immersed us in interviews and resumes.

It also immersed us, we must report, in a generally inspiring look at democracy. The candidates cover a wide range of experience, ideology, skill, knowledge, coherence and, yes, integrity. But all of them convinced us they care about their community and the people in it. Almost with one voice they sent a message the eventual winners ought to heed: Local government needs to do a better job, by listening more closely to the general public and by discussing its options more openly. In most races, there are candidates able and committed to doing so.

Yet some, lacking basic knowledge about how government works or how people settle tough disputes, probably would aggravate the public’s disrespect and suspicion toward the political process.

That’s why it is so important to vote on Tuesday. This election will narrow the field, and could leave choices between credible candidates in the November election.

We hope you have followed the reasoning in our endorsements over the last few weeks. More than that, we hope you vote as your own conscience guides you. Only if all of us participate in democracy are its leaders likely to head in a direction the community will respect.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Spokesman-Review endorsements

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = John Webster/For the editorial board