Republican Earling for Snohomish executive

Democrat Aaron Reardon is a policy whiz, but for the job of managing and overseeing Snohomish County government, Republican Dave Earling is the best choice for county executive.

Earling offers voters the right combination of private and public experience to help Snohomish County weather storms that might be ahead. County government is a big enterprise, with 2,700 employees and a working budget of $165 million. It's not the place for on-the-job management training.

Reardon is a successful, skilled politician. He has two terms in the state House of Representatives, and last fall was elected to a four-year term in the state Senate. If voters are confused and maybe a little miffed by this latest campaign, it is understandable.

Reardon has done good work in the Senate. He was an advocate of Gov. Gary Locke's priorities-of-government approach to balancing the state budget. Reardon was a stalwart on the Washington Competitiveness Council, which is seeking ways to make the state attractive to employers and expand the economy.

Being county executive certainly involves smart budgeting and keeping an eye on the economic climate, but the job description is also about day-to-day management and leadership.

Look to the failed jail levy for proof of voter frustration with sloppy oversight of basic county functions.

Earling, in his 12th year on the Edmonds City Council, serves the front line of government, where local budget decisions are closer to the voters and the workers whose jobs are saved or cut.

In addition to elected office, Earling was a college teacher for 11 years before going into real estate, eventually buying and developing his own brokerage.

His government and business experience give him particular insights into land-use matters, where Snohomish County appears to be struggling, in Earling's words, in the absence of any high-quality planning.

Earling knows transportation — the problems, players and potential solutions — from work on the Puget Sound Regional Council, Community Transit and Sound Transit. He shut down Sound Transit's Capitol Hill tunnel project when cost projections soared beyond budget.

On many key topics, Snohomish County's success is linked to cooperation and fully establishing itself as a working partner with King, Pierce and Kitsap counties. Voters can draw confidence from Earling's simple assertion, "I understand the region and how it functions."

Earling and Reardon seek to replace County Executive Bob Drewel, who leaves office after 12 years due to term limits. Both candidates are in the same moderate vein as the incumbent. Neither is consumed by the ideological zeal that has pushed and pulled the County Council.

This is a good campaign between two credible candidates. Republican Dave Earling is endorsed because he brings a strong mix of skills and experience to a demanding job in challenging times.