A close call in the 16th District Senate race, but this candidate swayed us | Editorial
The Tri-Cities is going to miss Sen. Maureen Walsh, R-College Place.
She’s an extremely well liked, straight-shooting lawmaker who votes her conscience and fights hard for her constituents.
After 28 years of public service in the Legislature — 12 as a staff member and 16 in elected office — she is retiring before the next session starts in January.
Now we have to choose her replacement.
Rep. Bill Jenkin, R-Prosser, ran for the seat, but did not receive enough votes in the primary to move on.
So now it is guaranteed that the next senator representing the 16th District will be a novice who has never served in the Legislature before.
Voters have a choice between Republican Perry Dozier, a farmer from Waitsburg, and Danielle Garbe Reser, a Democrat from Walla Walla who believes our region needs someone in the majority party who can speak up for Eastern Washington in Olympia.
Both Dozier and Reser are strong candidates.
But Garbe Reser swayed us, and she gets our recommendation.
Garbe Reser reminds us of Eastern Washington Democrats from years ago. Think former Rep. Bill Grant of Walla Walla and former Sen. Valoria Loveland of Pasco. These two were among the most respected political leaders of their time, and they made sure the Legislature paid attention to our region.
Garbe Reser wants to do the same.
Going by our interview with Garbe Reser and Dozier, they appear to agree on many issues. Garbe Reser wants to protect the Snake River dams, and she’s against the idea of an income tax.
Dozier feels the same way. He operates irrigated and dryland farms in Franklin and Walla Walla counties, and is a former two-term Walla Walla county commissioner.
He also has served as president of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers. In that capacity, he once testified before a U.S. Senate subcommittee on the advantages and disadvantages of shipping wheat by rail, road and barge.
He has been a lifelong resident of the 16th District, graduating from Prescott High School and Whitman College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics.
Add to his resume his work on the Walla Walla Planning Commission, the Waitsburg Economic Development Committee, the Snake River Recovery Board, the Washington State Barley Commission and the Tri-Cities Grain Board.
There is no doubt the region’s agricultural interests would be in safe hands with Dozier. And his experience with so many varied boards and commissions means his learning curve in the Legislature may not be so steep.
It is likely, though, that the Democrats will be the majority party in Olympia for some time, and it is also likely that Democrat Gov. Jay Inslee will be returned for another term. While Dozier has said that a moderate Democrat like Garbe Reser might not carry much influence if she doesn’t fall in with the party line, we think it is time to find out what a Democrat from our side of the state could accomplish in Olympia.
Garbe Reser is married to a fifth-generation farmer. So she, too, is keenly aware of the rural and agricultural issues in the district.
She was raised in Moses Lake and attended Whitman College in Walla Walla. She then went on to have an impressive career as a U.S. State Department official for 14 years, serving under both Republican and Democrat administrations.
Of particular interest to the Tri-Cities, one of Garbe Reser’s assignments included being the diplomatic advisor to the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy.
During her time working for the federal government, she also held posts at U.S. Embassies in Beirut, Lebanon, and Jakarta, Indonesia. Garbe Reser was on the personal staff of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and on the National Security Council staff for the Obama Administration.
In 2015, the pull of family made Garbe Reser decide to return to Eastern Washington, and she now serves as the CEO of Sherwood Trust, a private nonprofit foundation that supports the Walla Walla community. It has $30 million in assets.
Both Dozier and Garbe Reser know the region, but her federal experience abroad gives her a unique perspective that cannot be dismissed.
And we think it would be in the region’s best interest to have a Democrat in the room of the majority party standing up for Eastern Washington.
The Tri-City Herald recommends Danielle Garbe Reser for State Senator, Legislative District 16.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREBehind Our Election Recommendations
Who decides the recommendations?
Members of The Tri-City Herald editorial board is comprised of experienced opinion journalists and community members, and is separate from The Herald’s newsroom. Conversations are on the record.
What does the recommendation process entail?
Whenever possible, The Herald editorial board meets with opposing candidates at the same time. The questions are largely focused on a candidate’s qualifications and goals. The editorial board then discusses the candidates in each race and decides who to recommend. Board members seek to reach a consensus on our recommendations, but not every decision is unanimous.
Is the editorial board partisan?
No. In making recommendations, members of the editorial board consider which candidates are well prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they agree with us or belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, their readiness for office, their depth of knowledge of key issues, their understanding of public policy and their ability to work with the current board . We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points. The editorial board will endorse both Republicans and Democrats.
Why are the editorials unsigned?
Our election recommendations reflect the collective views of The Herald’s editorial board — not just the opinion of one writer. For the 2022 election, the board includes: Cecilia Rexus, Herald editorial writer; Laurie Williams, Herald executive editor; Jack Briggs, retired Herald publisher; Ken Robertson, retired Herald executive director; Matt Taylor, retired Herald editorial writer; Mike Paoli and Martin Valadez, community representatives.
This story was originally published October 22, 2020 at 12:17 PM.