In Our View: Endorsements roundup

f you’re a registered voter, the most popular and most inclusive exercise in democracy awaits your attention. Every election is important, but every four years Americans face the glorious opportunity to participate in a presidential election.

On top of all the national hoopla surrounding the presidential race, Clark County residents will make key decisions in state and county races plus vote on a few local measures in small jurisdictions. How big is this election? For folks concerned about their country, state and community, it’s the Olympics, World Series and Super Bowl all rolled into one. Why, it’s right up there near “American Idol”!

County Auditor Greg Kimsey expects an 83-85 percent voter turnout (it was 83 percent in 2004), and that’s more than double the voter turnout in the Aug. 19 primary (37.9 percent).

Ballots for the Nov. 4 election were mailed last Wednesday. If you don’t receive yours by next Wednesday, call the Clark County Elections Department: 360-397-2345. For more information, visit www.clarkvotes.com. And remember the Nov. 4 postmark deadline.

Below are endorsements announced recently by The Columbian. Reminder: These are opinions only, intended more to trigger dialogue than to change minds. To read the complete editorials, visit www.columbian.com/section/opinion and click on “Election 2008: Endorsements, Pro/Cons” in the lower right corner.

Statewide offices

(I=incumbent)

Governor: Democrat Chris Gregoire (I)

Attorney general: Republican Rob McKenna (I)

Secretary of state: Republican Sam Reed (I)

State auditor: Democrat Brian Sonntag (I)

Superintendent of public instruction (nonpartisan office): Terry Bergeson (I)

Commissioner of public lands: Republican Doug Sutherland (I)

State treasurer: Democrat Jim McIntire

Lieutenant governor: Democrat Brad Owen (I)

Insurance commissioner: Democrat Mike Kreidler (I)

15th Legislative District

State representatives: Republican Bruce Chandler (I) and Republican Dan Newhouse (I)

17th Legislative District

State senator: Democrat David Carrier

State representatives: Democrat Deb Wallace (I) and Democrat Tim Probst

18th Legislative District

State senator: Republican Joe Zarelli (I)

State representatives: Republican Ed Orcutt (I) and Republican Jaime Herrera (I, appointee)

49th Legislative District

State senator: Democrat Craig Pridemore (I)

State representative: Democrat Jim Moeller (I) and Democrat Jim Jacks

Clark County commissioner

District 1: Democrat Pam Brokaw

District 2: Republican Marc Boldt (I)

Statewide initiatives

Vote “No” on Initiative 985 — I-985 would “… open high-occupancy lanes to all traffic during specified hours, require traffic light synchronization, increase roadside assistance funding, and dedicate certain taxes, fines, tolls and other revenues to traffic-flow purposes.”

Vote “Yes” on Initiative 1000 — I-1000 is patterned after Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act.

Vote “No” on Initiative 1029 — Promoted by Service Employees International Union, I-1029 would “require long-term care workers to be certified as home care aides based on an examination, with exceptions; increase training and criminal background check requirements; and establish disciplinary standards and procedures.”

Congress

U.S. representative, 3rd District: Democrat Brian Baird (I)

President

Democrat Barack Obama