The Times recommends: Roger Goodman for 45th Legislative District House Position 1

OVER the past decade, state Rep. Roger Goodman has developed a deep and nuanced understanding of the big challenges facing the state in education and law enforcement. This year, Olympia especially needs smart lawmakers with a capacity to be bipartisan to face the huge challenge of reforming education financing. Voters in the 45th Legislative District, which includes Kirkland and Woodinville, should stick with Goodman for one more term for House Position 1.

The Kirkland Democrat is an attorney who has carved out a niche as chair of the House Public Safety Committee. He led on bipartisan legislation enhancing protection for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and is currently co-chair of the state task force reviewing prosecution standards for police accused of using unnecessary deadly force.

The Times recommends:

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Roger Goodman

45th Legislative District House Position 1

Strengths: Deep, nuanced understanding of education and law enforcement

Goodman’s biggest asset to voters, and the reason for this endorsement, is his capacity to help the Legislature resolve the state Supreme Court’s education-funding mandate. ..."

Goodman’s biggest asset to voters, and the reason for this endorsement, is his capacity to help the Legislature resolve the state Supreme Court’s education-funding mandate.

That will require a mix of some new revenue and school-financing reforms, including changes to local collective-bargaining rules, which Goodman rightly supports despite opposition from the state teachers union.

To be a productive bargainer, Goodman must moderate some of his doctrinaire views. Unfortunately, he opposed legislation last year to preserve charter schools, an approach that his district strongly supported at the ballot in 2012.

Goodman provided his Eastside district solid leadership by pressing the state Department of Transportation to adjust course when the agency bungled the launch of tolls on Interstate 405. Overall, he has a good record of passing meaningful, bipartisan legislation.

Sammamish Deputy Mayor Ramiro Valderrama, a Republican, is a credible challenger with a business-consulting background, a strong civic résumé and an “outstanding” rating by the Municipal League of King County. He is justifiably critical of the “mind-blowing” cost of Sound Transit 3 and its benefit to the 45th District.

But his decision to remain on the Sammamish City Council if elected to the Legislature should make voters question his priorities. And his statement that the $3 billion-plus bill for the McCleary ruling might be partly paid with government “efficiencies” shows he is unrealistic. Goodman, in contrast, understands that new revenue, such as a state capital-gains tax, is needed to pay for McCleary.

Goodman, due to his experience, deserves one more term to deliver comprehensive education finance reform for the 45th Legislative District.