Got your ballot? Here are our election recommendations

Mail-in voting is well under way for the Nov. 2 general election in Washington state. After studying the issues and conducting interviews with the candidates and representatives of the initiative campaigns, the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board makes the following recommendations of candidates and ballot issues:

* U.S. Senate: DINO ROSSI, Republican

Over the past 12 years, we have endorsed Democratic Sen. Patty Murray twice for re-election and have endorsed Rossi twice for governor. Something had to give this year. This is a close call for us, but we believe Rossi's pragmatic fiscal conservatism can chart this country on the right course, and we endorse him for the U.S. Senate.

* 4th District Congress: DOC HASTINGS, Republican

It's the biennial ritual here in the 4th Congressional District: Incumbent Republican Hastings will cruise to re-election against an underfinanced Democrat. This time the foe is Jay Clough, who is making his first run for public office. While we have taken Hastings to task in previous years for primarily focusing on issues affecting his hometown base of the Tri-Cities, he has attended to Yakima Valley concerns and warrants our endorsement for re-election to a ninth term.

* 14th District representative, Position 1: NORM JOHNSON, Republican

Republican Michele Strobel has staked her challenge over Johnson's co-sponsorship of the state's domestic partners bill, which is now law. We don't believe a majority of 14th District voters share Strobel's and her supporters' fixation over gays and how they conduct their lives. We believe voters are more concerned about nuts-and-bolts issues such as getting the state back to living within its means, improving schools, legislation to combat gang violence and providing for essential services. On those overriding issues, Johnson demonstrates more knowledge and capability.

* 15th District representative, Position 1: BRUCE CHANDLER, Republican

Chandler, an orchardist, represents the agricultural industry and is politically well-attuned to the Yakima Valley. Democratic challenger Paul Spencer is an unabashed, self-proclaimed "tax-and-spend liberal" who supports an income tax with an accompanying reduction in sales tax. Chandler is a strong and well-placed voice on water issues.

* 15th District representative, Position 2: DAVID TAYLOR, Republican

Taylor is a relative newcomer, having been appointed in April 2009 and then winning re-election when a challenger dropped out. His specific approach to issues gives him the edge over Democratic challenger Tom Silva. Taylor appears to be mastering a steep learning curve on legislative issues and can speak first-hand for agricultural and water-storage interests.

* 13th District representative, Position 2: BILL HINKLE, Republican

State Rep. Hinkle offers eight years of experience representing the 13th District in Olympia, plus six years' service as Kittitas County commissioner. His opponent, Anthony "El Tigrero" Novack, is a political novice whose declared party is the Bull Moose. On paper it's a mismatch between two candidates from upper Kittitas County, and that holds in the campaign.

* Board of Yakima County Commissioners, District 3: RAND ELLIOTT, Republican

One-term Republican incumbent Elliott faces Ken Stevens, a Republican challenger with no government experience, who claims affiliation with the tea party movement. Elliott is on top of county issues, from dealing with the budget deficit and the Nile Valley landslide to water storage and pollution issues. Stevens, whose campaign stems from a gripe with the county about building permits for a structure on his Terrace Heights property, could speak only in generalities about most issues.

* Yakima County sheriff: KEN IRWIN, Republican

Challenger Kelly Rosenow made the November ballot after mounting a write-in campaign in the August primary. Rosenow challenges Irwin's stewardship of law-enforcement funds and wants to increase neighborhood efforts to fight crime. Irwin defends how his office has dealt with fiscal realities and how it has implemented neighborhood crime-fighting strategies. He also holds a much more pragmatic view of where the county needs to provide services and where law enforcement fits in.

* Yakima County prosecutor: JIM HAGARTY, Republican

Hagarty, the incumbent, says his experience lets him navigate a fine line between aggressively prosecuting cases and keeping his office within budget. Democratic challenger David Lees says Hagarty crosses the line on several issues, from using county resources to promote his candidacy to blocking District Judge Ralph Thompson from hearing criminal cases. We share Lees' unease with the way Hagarty has run aspects of the prosecutors office, but don't think he has made the case for being the one to dislodge Hagarty.

* Yakima County auditor: CORKY MATTINGLY, Democrat

Incumbent Mattingly has a vocal challenger in Yakima businessman Mark Peterson, who cites a state Auditor's Office report that criticizes Mattingly's office for inadequate control over accounting and financial reporting. Peterson, a Republican, also believes Mattingly's office should police illegal immigrants who try to register to vote. On the audit, Mattingly says the state findings are more an issue of reporting and emphasizes there are no missing or misused funds. Mattingly says the state has adequate safeguards for ensuring against possible voter fraud by illegal immigrants. Peterson has reporting issues of his own -- in campaign finance -- and doesn't make the case for election to this office.

* Yakima County clerk: KIM EATON, Republican

This is a repeat of the 2006 election involving Eaton and Republican challenger Janelle Riddle, and we favor a repeat outcome of an Eaton victory. Eaton touts technological advances that have increased efficiencies and deflected staff cuts resulting from the recent budget crunch. If returned to office, Eaton says she will work to improve public access to records through technology and will look at private partnerships.

* Yakima County District Court, Position 2: BRIAN SANDERSON

Sanderson's six years as a Selah Municipal Court judge and 10 years as judge pro tem in Superior and District courts give him the edge over Glen Warren. He has attended the Washington State Judicial College, which trains new judges. Warren, 59, argues that his "life experience" and longer legal tenure entitle him to the job over the younger Sanderson, 43, but we find Sanderson's experience to be more applicable. Sanderson rates higher across the board in a Yakima County Bar Association poll.

* Yakima County District Court, Position 3: DON ENGEL

Challenger Steve Keller, who has worked 28 years as a county deputy prosecutor, bases his campaign on complaints from two Washington State Patrol troopers that Engel was slow to issue search warrants for blood to be drawn from drivers in two drunken-driving cases. Engel defends his actions, arguing the request for the warrants came after a two-hour threshold, a standard upheld by the state Supreme Court. We don't see the warrants issue as changing the game nor the need to change the judge. The county bar association consistently gives Don Engel the most "highly qualified" ratings in all categories, and we go along with that.

* Yakima County District Court, Position 4: MIKE EVERETT

Attorneys with very different backgrounds, experiences and styles are competing for the seat being vacated by Ralph Thompson. And while the individuals are different, our call is close. Everett comes across as the folksy small-town lawyer that he is, with six years as a part-time Wapato Municipal Court judge. He has served 10 years on the Grandview City Council and in the early 1980s ran for state Senate as a Democrat. Doug Federspiel offers the intellectualism and insights of an experienced company attorney, which he is with Yakima's Wilkinson Corp. Either one would serve well as District Court judge, but we like Everett's experience and observations in dealing with the sorts of cases that come before a District Court judge. Federspiel rates higher overall in the county bar poll, which gives Everett the edge in a couple of areas.

* State Supreme Court: CHARLIE WIGGINS

In the August primary, we wrote that we thought it was time for a new face and outlook on the Washington state Supreme Court as we endorsed former Court of Appeals Judge Charlie Wiggins. What held in August holds for November. Wiggins' complaints that incumbent Justice Richard Sanders has failed to maintain impartiality hold validity, and Sanders has become so passionate about protecting individual rights that he has lost sight of his role as an arbiter of justice.

* Initiative 1053, two-thirds of a legislative vote required to raise taxes: YES

You knew this was coming to the ballot as soon as the Democratic legislative majority pushed through an assortment of tax increases during the past session. Democrats repeatedly have ignored calls for reforming a broken fiscal system and instead have imposed a patchwork of budget cutbacks and tax increases. Apparently, voters need to push lawmakers along into finding long-term solutions. Consider this the push.

* Initiative 1082, end the state monopoly on industrial insurance: YES

This measure sets up a classic election-year power struggle between industry and labor interests. Voters will decide whether to end the state's monopoly on workers' compensation insurance, also known as industrial insurance, allowing private insurers to compete for that business. This is the way it's done in 46 states, and Washington should be the 47th.

* Initiative 1098, institute a state income tax on those earning $200,000 or more: NO

The Democratic-controlled Legislature has done little to disprove the assertion that it could push an income tax floor down to engulf lower-income workers. At the very least, the tax would not be indexed to inflation. There is no guarantee that lawmakers won't tap the "designated" education and health funds for general purposes, nor would it necessarily stabilize this state's financial wobbles. The state also would lose a major advantage in recruiting businesses to Washington. And finally, it's likely to be challenged in court.

* Initiative 1100, close state liquor stores, authorize private parties for sales, distribution and importation of liquor: YES

Deemed the retailers bill (Costco wrote it), this liquor privatization measure would allow liquor to be sold in grocery stores where beer and wine are now sold. Compared to the competing Initiative 1105, this measure is the more market-oriented of the two. The state sales tax would stay, but the 51 percent state markup would go away.

* Initiative 1105, close state liquor stores, license private parties to sell or distribute spirits: NO

Deemed the distributors bill, this competing liquor privatization measure would require retailers to purchase hard liquor through distributors, thus ensuring a middleman that would take a swig of the profits. Liquor taxes would be eliminated, but the measure calls on the Legislature to consider new ones.

* Initiative 1107, repeal the tax on bottled water, candy and soda: YES

This would rightfully repeal tax increases that the Legislature approved during the past session. Amid retailer confusion, the state Department of Revenue issued a list of 11,300 products that are taxable and 1,300 candies that are not. An example: "Marshmallow pieces are taxable, but marshmallow cream is exempt." Store owners and employees should be exempt from memorizing a list of 11,300 taxable candies.

* Referendum 52, authorize bond sales to make schools more energy-efficient: NO

The stated intent is to enable energy-efficient schools, but it would enable a financial burden on future generations, the very people the referendum purports to serve. In addition to bonds that would cost almost $1 billion over 29 years, the measure assumes an indefinite extension of the bottled-water sales tax that would be eliminated if Initiative 1107 passes.

* HJR 4220, expand charges under which a judge can deny bail: YES

The "Remember Lakewood" measure zipped through the Legislature this year after a gunman killed four Pierce County deputies in November 2009. The suspect, Maurice Clemmons, was released on bail six days before the shootings while facing charges of child rape, which if convicted under the state's "three strikes" law could have put him away for life. The state Constitution now allows a judge to deny bail only if the defendant faces charges in a capital crime. This measure expands the offenses for which bail may be denied to include Class A felonies that bring the possibility of life in prison. The law is narrowly drawn, leaves the decision up to a judge and could prove to be a valuable tool in maintaining safety in our state's communities.

* SJR 8225, change the definition of interest on state indebtedness: YES

This measure would amend the state Constitution so that interest is redefined to make state general obligation bonds eligible for a new federal subsidy called Build America Bonds. It would also change how the state's constitutional debt limit is calculated. Yes, it's technical, and it's essentially a technical change that would allow the state to take advantage of a federal program that other states are using.

* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are James E. Stickel, Bob Crider, Frank Purdy and Karen Troianello.