The following list of recommendations represents our choices for candidates public office and various ballot measures in the Nov. 2, 2010 general election. Please vote.

Initiative 1053----Yes

Requires a 2/3 vote to raise taxes

King County Proposition 1--Yes

Raises taxes .2 of one percent to preserve police and court operations

Seattle School Levy--No

8th Congressional District--Suzan DelBene

DelBene is a superior candidate. Reichert has had ample opportunity to perform on behalf of his constituents and has been unimpressive, preferring to follow the pack. We think DelBene will be more effective in the role give her background and experience.

US Senate--Patty Murray

Patty Murray is the WYSIWYG candidate. She is honest, hardworking and a champion of this state who has done great work on our behalf. Her opponent, a perpetual candidate for a public office, has a furtive quality about him that we do not trust. His past associations and murky public pronouncements and trail of contributors make him suspect as a true representative of the people. While Senator Murray went to Washington to stand up for her district, Rossi behaves like a man who just wants a powerful federal job so he can aggrandize his wealthy supporters.

8th King County District--Joe McDermott

McDermott has the political tools to help move King County forward. As a former member of the House of Representatives and current State Senator of the 34th District, his concerns for the improvement of his district's citizens, businesses and environment have been consistent and positive.

33rd Legislative District--Karen Keiser

Keiser has the experience and know-how that her opponent lacks and deserves another term. For those things about which she is expert, she has done a good job for the district.

34th Legislative District--Michael Heavey

Heavey has politics in his blood and the smarts to be an effective representative for the district. We have know both his father and uncle, long-time public servants of the highest caliber. We feel certain this candidate has learned well the lessons of politics that make him best qualified at this time.

36th Legislative District

Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Mary Lou Dickerson and Reuven Carlyle all deserve another term in office. They are among the best and the brightest in the legislature and very good representatives for the district.

Initiative 1100--No
Red flags flew when Costco weighed in on this one, which would allow them to peddle hard liquor in their big box stores. We all would like to pay less for things we consume, and the long-term monopoly the state has on the liquor business probably ought to be scrutinzed and amended. But let's wait one more round before giving this the okay. Costco is already hugely profitable. A win for them would put quite a few people out of work, force landlords who rent to the state to find a new tenant for their empty buildings in a down economy and likely lead to an increase in the shoplifting of booze.

Initiative 1098----Yes

We were afraid of this at first, the opening wedge to stick it to us. But it bypasses the greatest number of wage earners. ($200 thousand for one and $400 thousand per year for couples) and is way beyond most of us by far. But it is peanuts for big business leaders.

Initiative 1107--No

Keep the tax on candy, water and pop. Your kids' teeth will be the dentificiary.