The Seattle Times editorial board recommends: Lillian Ortiz-Self for Legislative District 21, Position 2

For nearly 11 years, Lillian Ortiz-Self has ably represented Mukilteo, Lynnwood and Edmonds in the Legislature’s 21^st district, and voters should return her to office for another term.

Now in a leadership role as majority caucus chair, Ortiz-Self has been an impassioned advocate for families and children. She shepherded an important law aimed at reducing foster care through the Legislature and spearheaded an effort to boost funding for dual-language education in public schools.

She understands that creating good public policy requires a holistic lens, an understanding of the ways transportation needs can affect education and housing.

That will be essential in the 2025 legislative session, as a tight budget will challenge lawmakers to find creative ways of boosting priorities while maintaining existing spending. Ortiz-Self said she is especially interested in finding ways to more quickly identify children in need of special education services. Disappointingly, during her interview with The Times editorial board, she did not offer any specifics on ways to make that happen while navigating the impending budget crunch.

She also seemed unaware of a sharp spike in fentanyl-related child deaths since her Keeping Families Together Act went into effect last year — surprising, since child welfare is her area of greatest expertise.

Critical incidents involving children may have increased, but not as a result of the new law, she insists. That’s a gentle way of blaming leadership at the Department of Children, Youth and Families.

Ortiz-Self offered a similarly light touch in her criticism of state education leaders, though she said making the superintendent of public instruction a member of the governor’s cabinet might increase accountability. “I’m open to all those ideas,” she said.

That’s encouraging. But it’s discouraging that the representative believes it’s acceptable for lawmakers to shield their communications from the public, primarily to avoid embarrassment.

“As a member of leadership, I feel the need to protect our committees’ private discussions, and our members’ right to struggle with bills,” she told The Times earlier this year.

Ortiz-Self’s challenger, Republican Kristina Mitchell, did not show up for her scheduled endorsement interview, so The Times takes no position on her candidacy.