The Herald’s endorsement for the 8th Legislative District | Opinion
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Tri-City Herald 2024 election recommendations
The Tri-City Herald Editorial Board met with more than two dozen candidates for local and state office. Here are their endorsements.
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In the 8th Legislative District, Position 2, we recommend voters return incumbent Rep. April Connors to Olympia. The district includes most of Richland, West Pasco and the east side of Kennewick.
Connors, a Republican, is completing her first term in the Legislature. She has proved willing and capable of working with majority Democrats on a variety of issues. For example, she was involved in reforming the police pursuit law that had been broken by previous legislation.
She also has been a strong voice on topics critical to this part of the state, not least youth engagement and Hanford.
Voters should take note that Connors is the assistant ranking member on the Appropriations and Housing committees, both useful assignments for the region. The former has its hands on the state’s purse strings and the latter tackles the state’s housing crisis.
We do not agree with her on everything, but she has represented the region well and done nothing to disqualify herself from re-election. Indeed, she is somewhat of a throwback to moderate Republicans of yore and serves as a valuable foil to runaway, unaccountable Democratic control of the Capitol.
Connors’ opponent, Democrat John Christensen, seems to be running less against Connors and more against Donald Trump. On every question, he turns his answer to the former president. The Mid-Columbia needs a representative focused on the region and the state, not someone tilting at faraway windmills.
The candidates’ answers when asked about whether EFSEC should be changed in light of Gov. Jay Inslee’s bullying the commission into permitting a much more expansive wind project at Horse Heaven Hills was illustrative.
Connors agreed that it was a problem and provided a nuanced answer about green energy. Christensen attacked Trump’s climate agenda. He isn’t wrong, but he’s running for the wrong job to fight the battles in which he clearly wants to engage.
▪ The other representative from the 8th District, Republican Stephanie Barnard, also collaborates well with the Democratic majority and has been a strong advocate for the Tri-Cities’ interests. She is running unopposed.
This story was originally published October 25, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREBehind Our Election Recommendations
Who decides the recommendations?
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 2024 election, the board includes: Laurie Williams, Herald executive editor; Jack Briggs, retired Herald publisher; Ken Robertson, retired Herald editor; Rosa Torres, community representative. Chris Trejbal is our editorial writer.
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