Washington has only one genuinely contested congressional race in 2008: a rematch between U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert and Darcy Burner in the 8th District, which encompasses most of eastern Pierce and King counties.

We endorsed Reichert’s re-election in 2006 and do so again this year. He’s one of the most independent-minded members of the House Republican caucus, and a principled, thoughtful lawmaker. He works readily with Democrats and has become a determined advocate of preserving sensitive wilderness in the Cascades.

Reichert also has an impressive record of leadership and public service. Prior to his election to Congress in 2004, for example, he was King County’s elected sheriff. He has brought a rare depth of expertise in law enforcement to the House.

Burner, a Carnation Democrat, is a smart, tech-savvy candidate who’s mounted another vigorous challenge. She is a celebrity in the world of MoveOn.org, ActBlue and the Daily Kos. Her campaign has been powered by vast sums of money from the liberal blogosphere.

Not surprisingly, Burner tends to reflect the political enthusiasms of her supporters. Her opposition to international trade agreements is troubling. Like others opposed to free trade, she champions “fair trade” – a term of art for encumbering agreements with U.S.-dictated labor and environmental rules that would be deal-killers for major trade partners.

This stance would poorly represent the nation’s most trade-dependent state – a major beneficiary of the North American Free Trade Agreement Burner opposes.

 • Two other South Sound races are not remotely as competitive.

In the 9th District – which encompasses much of western King and Pierce counties, including Puyallup, Federal Way, and parts of Tacoma and Lakewood – U.S. Rep. Adam Smith of Tacoma is challenged by James Postma, a Steilacoom Republican.

Smith is an adroit and intelligent lawmaker who has become an influential, center-leaning member of the Democratic caucus. Over his five terms, he has secured the support of what was once a sharply divided swing district. Postma has not made a case for replacing him.

The 6th District – which includes the Olympic Peninsula and parts of Lakewood and Tacoma – reliably re-elects Washington’s most experienced and effective lawmaker, Democrat Norm Dicks.

Over the years, Dicks has served both the district and state well, securing funding for many important projects – improvements to bridges, highways, military bases, national parks – and the list could go on. His seniority and legislative skills have won him key positions on the House Appropriations Committee.

Dicks’ Republican opponent, Gig Harbor attorney Doug Cloud, is a principled conservative. But we’ve yet to meet the candidate who looked like a trade up from Dicks.