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Editorial: TVW is must-see election TV

Wed., June 22, 2016

Believe it or not, there is a primary election season underway, and dozens of candidates are vying for your votes.

All of the statewide offices are up for grabs, and several incumbents are not running.

For instance, Lt. Gov. Brad Owen is not seeking re-election, and 11 people are competing to replace him. In addition, the superintendent of public instruction, lands commissioner, treasurer and auditor are all departing.

This has created some crowded fields of candidates that many voters may not have heard of. This is especially true in Eastern Washington, where Mary Verner, who is running for commissioner of public lands, is one of the few names that may be recognizable.

The challenge in casting an informed vote is daunting, so reliable information sources are important. The Spokesman-Review is planning election articles, and the editorial board will be issuing endorsements. So be sure to follow that coverage.

But voters are also fortunate to have TVW, the state’s public affairs network. Journalists are used to tuning into the station or using its website – TVW.org – to follow legislation or watch news conferences. If you’ve never watched, it’s similar to C-SPAN, except it covers Olympia instead of Washington, D.C.

TVW is the only state public affairs network that covers all legislative hearings. But it will also be working hard for voters this election season to deliver nonpartisan coverage. For starters, the website – tvw.org/elections-2016 – has three-minute video spots of nearly every candidate running for a statewide office or the Legislature. That’s a nice way to connect a face and a voice to the name on the ballot. That can be found at tvw.org/video-voters-guide.

It is also covering and providing video for numerous candidate debates.

For instance, the Association of Washington Business hosted a debate in that crowded lieutenant governor’s race on June 14 at the Davenport Hotel. Video is available at the TVW website.

If you’re partial to the labor side of issues, you can watch a video of the Washington State Labor Council’s Committee on Political Education Convention, as it voted on candidate endorsements on May 21. A calendar of other debates and political events is available at the website.

TVW is also helping fill the gap in civics education by offering itself as a resource for schools that want to teach students more about elections and government. “Capitol Classroom” allows students to choose an issue they want to turn into legislation. Students and their teachers work with volunteer lobbyists to write a bill and shepherd it through the legislative process. They communicate with their lobbyists via video conferences and can watch hearings on TVW. This hands-on experience gives students a glimpse into the inner workings of Olympia and helps them become more informed citizens and voters.

Eastern Washington residents who cannot drive to Olympia to watch hearings have come to rely on TVW to track the progress of legislation. But it’s also become a valuable resource for voters trying to navigate myriad political races.

It is must-see election TV.