Election day is next Tuesday - at last. Now it's only a year from at least a brief respite from presidential campaigning, even if we have to endure a long, miserable summer after the early winter decisions on who the candidates will be.

This year we are not endorsing local candidates, mainly because of some internal difficulties that made it impossible to meet and talk with each of them. We consider personal meetings with candidates the only way to really know them. We are unhappy at some of the campaigning, especially from incumbent City Councilman David Della.

We do have some words on some of the ballot measures.

We strongly oppose King County Initiative 25, which would make the elections officer an elected position. This bit of nonsense would allow a good politician to run an office instead of a competent technical person in this age of electronic balloting. The Republican Party four years ago had a proper complaint over missing, lost and horribly handled ballots. However, even after the matter was put to rest, the GOP continued to whine like spoiled brats and this is one of those whines. Do the right thing and dump this idea into the trash.

We support House Joint Resolution 4204 that would allow school levies to be passed with a majority vote, not 60 percent of 40 percent who voted in the last election. The time is right for schools to get more of the money they need and not have to depend on getting a disinterested public to the polls.

Finally there is Referendum 67, where political ads have been hysterical from the insurance industry. The measure would make it illegal for insurance companies to "unreasonably deny" some claims. If insurance companies do the right thing, then there is no cause for them to worry. Vote yes on Referendum 67.

- Jack Mayne