We endorse: Hesch, Stanford are Peninsula change agents in Washington Dist. 26, House
The area west of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge is known for dynamic tides and shifting shorelines. The so-called “Blue Wave,” unleashed after the election of Donald Trump, might be reshaping the politics of the 26th Legislative District as well.
Over the past decade, the predominantly white, largely affluent district has leaned conservative. But Its two state representatives, Republicans Jesse Young and Michelle Caldier, both saw voter support erode between the 2016-2018 elections. Meanwhile, Democrat Emily Randall, a first-time candidate, seized the formerly GOP-held Senate seat.
Indeed, change is afoot west of the Narrows. Voters approved a Peninsula Schools bond for the first time since 2003. Young protesters recently took to Gig Harbor’s streets to assert that Black Lives Matter.
Bringing new blood to the 26th’s legislative delegation is consistent with the spirit of change. That’s why we’re endorsing Carrie Hesch for House Position 1 and Joy Stanford for House Position 2.
Hesch, 47, is a Gig Harbor Democrat and state prisons professional; she runs the recreation and wellness programs at the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Purdy. She not only has an eye for waste in bureaucracy, she also has insights into the “vicious cycle” of drug abuse, incarceration, homelessness and recidivism that plagues marginalized women.
With public safety workers now under withering scrutiny across society, the Legislature can use people like Hesch, who know the demands of the job but also the need for reform. Another asset: She’s a former Longbranch resident and volunteer who raised two daughters on the Key Peninsula. It’s been too long since KeyPen had a voice in Olympia.
Standing in Hesch’s path is Young, a three-term incumbent. Young, 43, of Gig Harbor, has conservative street cred on issues such as religious liberty, guns, taxes and $30 car tabs. The software consultant worked across the aisle to help balance the transportation budget and freeze bridge tolls. His record on open government is admirable.
But we can’t get past how Young wants to have it both ways, talking a good bipartisan game while consorting with the fringes of his party. He stood with young Gig Harbor street protesters on June 3 but also with counter protesters who showed up with guns. Young says he’s all about free speech. Really? Then use yours to condemn a brazen act of armed intimidation.
Most disturbing is Young’s diehard support for Rep. Matt Shea of Spokane, who’s banned from the House Republican caucus due to documented ties to domestic terrorists. Sorry, but those aren’t the prevailing values of the 26th District.
The third candidate in the Aug. 4 primary is Drew Darsow, 19, a Gig Harbor Democrat and economics student at Western Washington University. Darsow is smart, engaging and perhaps too honest for his own good; he told us he decided to run for the House after internships dried up during the pandemic. He’s clearly not ready for this job now. Maybe someday.
For Position 2, voters can’t go wrong with Democrat Joy Stanford, a long-time substitute teacher in Peninsula schools. Stanford, 55, of Gig Harbor, is making a second straight run for this seat. She impressed us with her positive energy, as she did in 2018, but this time she’s more polished on topics ranging from health care to institutionalized racism to reopening post-coronavirus society.
Stanford is also an outreach specialist for Shared Housing Services, a Tacoma nonprofit. While every local politician loves talking about affordable housing, Stanford works to help provide creative housing solutions for struggling families every day.
Caldier, the 44-year-old incumbent, remains a dedicated lawmaker in her third term. As a former nursing home dentist, she fights to keep elder-care facilities open. As a long-time foster parent, she fights for kids from hard-luck backgrounds.
Caldier’s moderate record always invites a primary election challenger from the right flank. This year it’s fellow Port Orchard Republican Alisha Beeler, a pretrial services officer for Kitsap County. Beeler, 40, says she’d be a champion for deregulation, lower taxes and untangling traffic on state Route 16. A first-time candidate, she didn’t quite measure up to her opponents.
Endorsing against two sitting legislators is a decision we didn’t make lightly. The Legislature will need proven leaders as it grapples with COVID-19 budget fallout and criminal justice reform. That will be reflected in many of our endorsements this year.
Choosing between Stanford and Caldier was a close call, as it was in 2018 when we endorsed Caldier. But today Washington is at a crossroads where issues of diversity and racial justice can no longer be discounted. On that score, some of Caldier’s votes are concerning; for example, she was one of only 10 lawmakers in the 98-member House to vote against a bill this year banning discrimination based on hairstyle or texture.
Yes, the 26th Legislative District is changing. For voters to elect an up-and-coming Black female leader to the Legislature would be a sure sign of embracing that change.
ABOUT OUR ENDORSEMENTS
The News Tribune Editorial Board interviewed candidates and did other research before making our picks in the Aug. 4 primary election. For races with only two candidates, we will wait until general election season. Endorsements are intended to promote civic discourse and encourage voters to dig deeper. Board members include: Matt Misterek, editorial page editor; Karen Irwin, editorial writer; Matt Driscoll, local news columnist; and Pamela Transue, community representative and former president of Tacoma Community College.
This story was originally published July 5, 2020 at 7:00 AM with the headline "We endorse: Hesch, Stanford are Peninsula change agents in Washington Dist. 26, House."