White, Spanel, Metcalf Best Picks For Congress

WITH just one open House seat, most congressional primaries in the area are uncontested; stay tuned for the November general election. Two exceptions are in the northwest corner of the state.

In the 1st, an edge-city district reaching from Bellevue-Kirkland to Edmonds and North Kitsap County, three Republicans are vying for the seat held by Democratic Rep. Maria Cantwell. Rick White, a Bainbridge Island lawyer with strong community credentials, is the quality candidate.

Bill Tinsley is a 63-year-old, nondenominational missionary recently returned from Asia; he lacks deep roots in the district. Anthony Lowe, 33, a deputy prosecutor, has an impressive resume including staff experience with Sen. Slade Gorton and the state Senate. But his approaches to issues are straight from the party playbook, suggesting he's not ready for Congress.

White, 40, started earlier and has earned broad party support in what has been a Republican district. As a co-founder of the "Farm Team," a group of middle-of-the-road Republicans, he takes thoughtful approaches to crime, schools and particularly the complexities of the federal budget.

The 2nd district, which stretches from Everett and Bellingham to Port Angeles and Aberdeen, offers the state's longest and broadest list of choices. However, five GOP conservatives underscore the party's continuing failure to recruit quality candidates, a problem conceded privately by many Republicans.

To say that state Sen. Tim Erwin has been a lackluster legislator is generous; Congress is out of the question. Retired Navy officer Al Anderson only recently moved to the district. Former Air Force intelligence office David Montgomery sees treachery behind every fir tree. Everett banker Jim Andrews is a reasonable fellow, but a political novice.

That leaves Jack Metcalf, the popular, former state senator from Whidbey Island. Metcalf is a solid, Goldwater-style Republican who has been consistent, trustworthy and well-liked.

The Democratic field is more diverse. John Sandifer was a solid TV reporter, but he has not shown himself to be congressional material. Gabrielle Gallegos is a bright former congressional aide who only recently returned to the district; if she stays and attaches herself to the community she could well be in a future race. Paull Shin is a college professor and one-term state legislator with an intriguing life story, but his congressional bid is premature.

We recommend Harriet Spanel, a state senator from Bellingham who raised her family before launching a career in the Legislature. Spanel has shown a penchant for hard work both on the floor of the Legislature and the streets of her district. A champion of children's issues and natural resources, she emerges as the most-promising of the Democrats.

Published Correction Date: 09/11/94 - The 2Nd Congressional District, Which Extends From Everett To Bellingham, No Longer Includes The Olympic Peninsula. That Area Is Now In The 6Th District. In This Endorsement Editorial, The Times Erred In Describing The New Boundaries.