It may happen only once in 36 years, but getting a viable and competent replacement for Rep. Helen Sommers is important to Ballard and the entire 36th District.

Sommers is the longest serving state legislator and a virtual legend here. She is usually not one to seek out the media but to work quietly and competently. She said she just wanted to quietly go away, but "someone squeezed it out of me" when she decided to leave the Legislature around the end of the last session.

Now the problem before the voters of the district is which of the two candidates will be the best one to join the district's other representative, Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, and Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles.

The new Washington top two election law produced a dynamic duo of Democrats to duel it out for Sommers' job. Both are bright, articulate and are spending wads of cash to get the job.

John Burbank came in second in the primary but was a big vote getter in Phinney Ridge and not too far behind in other parts of the district. His campaign Web site give this general background:

"John has lived in the same house in the Greenwood/Phinney area of the 36th District for the past 23 years. His wife is Pam MacEwan, an executive vice president at Group Health. His daughter Megan is in college and his son, Owen, graduated from Ballard High School in June. Both his kids went straight through the Seattle public schools, and have done well, thanks in large part to their great teachers in those schools. A little more than 10 years ago, John founded the Economic Opportunity Institute."

The top vote getter was Reuven Carlyle. His Web site says this in way of introduction:

"I am running for two reasons: First, we live in a progressive city in a progressive state and yet so many of our policies dealing with education, taxes and the environment don't reflect our intelligence or core progressive values. Second, . . . I want to help bring that level of dialogue and solutions to state government and move beyond the old fashioned fistfights in Olympia of yesterday."

They are two great candidates and the district would benefit from either of them. Both are articulate and have long lists of ideas for what they would like to do and whey they think they can accomplish despite a big downturn in state tax income and the storm clouds hovering over our state.

Some say Carlyle has not been involved very deeply or very long, making him not qualified.

Others say Burbank is a policy wonk who has been long involved in the behind-the-scenes of the Legislature and state government.

We believe being a wonk can be helpful, but it also can stunt imagination and perhaps prevent coming up with new and innovative solutions.

Carlyle cites education as one of his major concerns, Burbank says it is healthcare. Who can argue with either?

But what made the difference for us was their stands on the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Burbank says, flatly, the fiscal situation demands we not tear down the viaduct but repair, strengthen and replace parts of the structure.

"You will note that some retrofitting occurred already at the south end, with almost no disruption. In fact, most people did not realize it happened."

Carlyle says, "My preferred solution is a three way combination of: a) fix I-5 to increase capacity, b) build a modest tunnel for a pass through along Western, First or Second, c) create surface for mass transit and an open waterfront."

That did it!

Retrofit the viaduct is the realistic solution for the financial times and for the continued health of commerce and transportation into and through the downtown. Retrofit is cheaper, easier and will last for at least 20 year when maybe our state will have a stronger financial outlook and when a tunnel might be a reasonable solution, which it is not now.

John Burbank is clearly the only choice for 36th District state representative and we unhesitatingly endorse him.

- Jack Mayne