Pragmatist Deb Eddy preferred in 48th Dist.

Deb Eddy is the better choice in the 48th Legislative District Democratic primary.

Eddy's tenure as a former Kirkland mayor and City Council member gives her an expert's perspective of how state machinations affect local governments. Her past service as executive director of the Suburban Cities Association, representing 37 cities with a combined 800,000 population, provides her with a regional savvy that reaches beyond the 48th District, which includes north Bellevue, Medina and Redmond. And her training as a lawyer gives her an eagle eye for problematic legislation. Her opponent, Santiago Ramos, is a promising newcomer who started a business at 21. But he lacks the depth and breadth of Eddy's experience and her big-picture perspective.

The successful Democrat in the primary will face the lone Republican candidate who filed, Bret Olson, in the general election.

Once a Republican bastion, the 48th District has become a solid swing district — so much so the current officeholder swung to the Democrats. Rodney Tom, elected for two terms as a moderate Republican, announced in March he was switching parties to challenge the 48th District's incumbent Sen. Luke Esser, a Republican.

Eddy is a pragmatic Democrat who knows this district, its strengths and challenges.