District 15: Chandler deserves another term

Most of the voting power in the sprawling 15th Legislative District is in the Yakima Valley. But we do like the fact that a couple of candidates from White Salmon are offering vocal and effective reminders that the Columbia Gorge community in western Klickitat County is also interested in who's representing them in the state Legislature.

For that we applaud them.

Veteran Republican Bruce Chandler of Granger is being challenged by White Salmon Democrat John Gotts in a Position 1 race that is an uphill fight for the newcomer, though one in which he is giving a good account of himself. Gotts has his own nickname -- "Jobs" -- and that's his marquee issue: bringing living-wage jobs and benefits by attracting new industries to the district.

All things considered, though, the Internet entrepreneur is overmatched in this race, pitted against one of the more savvy and knowledgeable lawmakers in the local legislative delegation. Yet while Gotts doesn't have the background of the incumbent, we think he has some good ideas and would be a good addition to appropriate state boards or commissions looking at economic and other issues in south-central Washington.

Still, we'll strongly recommend Chandler for re-election to the $42,106 position. The Granger farmer is a good fit for the district and, along with his seatmate, state Rep. Dan Newhouse, a Sunnyside Republican, is a logical choice to take the lead on critical water storage issues facing the Yakima River Basin. During an editorial board interview, Chandler said there can only be so many efficiencies implemented in the basin to conserve water and that the long-term mission has to be more storage.

We are particularly impressed with Chandler's contributions to open government, for which he received an award from the Washington Coalition for Open Government last month. He was a key player in moving a bill in the legislative session earlier this year that would have mandated audio taping of local government executive sessions. The bill didn't make it out of the Legislature, but will be back in January's session. We want him back helping lead the charge again in the next session.

He acknowledges that legislators will have their work cut out for them writing a 2009-11 state budget starting in January. As a member of the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee -- an assignment we would expect him to retain in the next session -- Chandler will be a key player in deliberations.

There will be a lot of talk about budget "deficits," or the difference between the amount of money needed to carry existing programs and services forward and the amount of money it would cost to pay for them.

He rightly points out that the state will also have more money available during those two years than at any other time in state history. That said, he rightly thinks spending should be addressed first.

And as far as raiding the state's new "rainy day" fund to get more money, Chandler says there's not enough money in it -- about a $700-plus million ending balance at the end of this budget cycle -- to make a dent in a budget he predicts could go as high as $35 billion for the next two budget years. It's $33 billion-plus now.

Given the very shaky state and national economies, we think budget talks must include the conservative voice of seasoned lawmakers like Chandler in a Legislature dominated by Western Washington liberal spenders.

* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Michael Shepard, Sarah Jenkins, Bill Lee and Karen Troianello.

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