SR can’t endorse Far Right’s Shea

The Spokesman-Review Editorial Board refuses to endorse Shea:

District 4: Two incumbent Republicans, Sen. Mike Padden and Rep. Bob McCaslin, are unopposed. Rep. Matt Shea might as well be, because he’s facing token opposition from a political unknown – Scott Stucker, a Bernie Sanders delegate who declined to return phone calls for an interview (as did Shea).

We can’t endorse Shea, whose extremist rhetoric and actions undermine law enforcement. His fellow Republicans are fooling themselves if they believe the problem is confined to a “feud” with the sheriff. They should have grave doubts about Shea’s leadership in irresponsible anti-government activities.

But we also cannot support Stucker, who has not mounted a serious campaign. So we decline to issue an endorsement.