For all of the smoke and hype associated with political campaigns, newspaper editorial endorsements seem to reflect some of the better polling on candidates. No, they are not always right and they don’t always choose the best candidate, at least according to our own thoughts.
But, they have the chance to actually view the candidates the most and spend the most time sitting down and discussing more issues one on one with them in order for their editorial boards to select who to endorse. They see the candidates back stage and view how they interact with campaign staff and others, something most voters never see.
I believe such is the case now that the larger newspapers are issuing their editorial board endorsements for Washington State 3rd Congressional District candidates.
At least 2 camps I’m sure will disagree and complain, but what else is new from them?
So far, the Seattle Times, the Columbian, the Longview Daily News and the Centralia Chronicle have chimed in for our primary election coming August 17. Since it is a primary election on who to choose to move forward to the general election, each chose two they desire to see win the nomination in our top two primary.
Every single one has chosen Republican David Castillo for one of the top two slots. Three chose Democrat Denny Heck for the second slot and one chose Republican Jaime Herrera for the second slot.
None chose David Hedrick who says he served in the Marine Corps and acts as if he and he alone know best about the constitution.
Also not selected was Democrat Cheryl Crist, a gutsy lady running on an anti-war anti-military platform. I say gutsy because she is willing to stand before audiences where the majority disagree with her and often jeer her. She does not back down from them and cower.
Norma Jean Stevens, the lone Independent was also not endorsed. Norma Jean Stevens is a political novice who entered the race late but has shown much improvement in her delivery and confidence in expressing herself. Should she not win in this primary and choose to continue pursuing public office, I believe she will fair well in the future.
The Seattle Times was the first to issue an endorsement in this race, selecting Castillo and Heck. Of the 2 men they stated,
“On numerous issues ranging from financial reform to federal spending, Heck elevates the discussion with his vast knowledge and solution-oriented approach. Castillo wraps no-nonsense earnestness into conservative principles, which have room for compassion for people living in poverty.”
Next Came the Columbian who chose to endorse two Republicans, David Castillo and Jaime Herrera. Of the two Republicans they said,
“The new voices of Castillo and Herrera resonate more compellingly with both traditional and visionary values,” adding “Castillo entered the race early, months before Baird retired, and wasted no time attacking both the incumbent and the Obama administration. His cut-spending, promote-the-private-sector platform is imbued with bedrock GOP principles, but he also proffers innovative ideas.”
Next came the Longview Daily News, who also chose David Castillo and Denny Heck. Of the candidates they said,
“Heck and Castillo impressed us as the most capable candidates in this crowded field, and they would offer voters in a district that trends both red and blue an excellent choice come November. Both hold fast to the principles of their respective parties, but they have the maturity and experience required to understand the practical value of moderation and cooperation.”
Lastly we come to the Centralia Chronicle who also chose Republican David Castillo and Democrat Denny Heck. They consider the nomination of Heck a given, considering he is the lone Democrat running at the top. Of Castillo, however, they state,
“Castillo’s combination of military service, work with the Department of Homeland Security, his tenure as the deputy assistant secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs for the Department of Veterans Affairs, his presidential appointee for the Intergovernmental Affairs Office with the U.S. Department of Labor, his time as Chief of Staff for the state House Minority Leader, his master’s degree from Gonzaga University, and his successful business as a financial advisor, give us the most assurance he would be able to handle himself and stick to his conservative principles when he leaves the Evergreen State to represent us back East.”
After apologetically saying Hedrick did not have what it takes, they said of Herrera, who had some support on their editorial board,
“we question her overall experience to navigate during these most trying of times in our nation, from fighting two wars, a deep recession and a push by the Democrats for Big Government at every turn.”
The Chronicle ends their endorsement with,
“Castillo is in line with our views on the economy. We can trust he will remain true to his fiscally conservative outlook. Castillo is the right choice for this primary election.”
With the condition of the nation’s economy and the ever deepening recession, we need to send a well qualified and sincere person to Washington D.C. We need not only strong leadership and representation for the 3rd Congressional District, but we need a strong voice of conservative sanity, one that doesn’t feed an ego off of a YouTube video or that is just too naïve to understand what she is doing.
We need David Castillo, the only candidate endorsed by all 4 major newspapers in the 3rd Congressional District to date.
