WA needs an experienced leader overseeing elections. A Pierce County hopeful fits the bill
If the race for Washington Secretary of State used to be a ho-hum affair — dominated by respected administrators with a history running elections, and often by moderate Republicans in a state well-known for its statewide blue hue — that’s no longer the case.
The days of Ralph Munro and Sam Reed feel like ancient history. Even the unquestionably successful tenure of Kim Wyman — who left for a gig in the Biden Administration late last year, departing at the time as the only Republican statewide elected official on the West Coast — feels like it’s viewed through a black-and-white filter: a snapshot from a simpler time.
Today, of course — thanks in large part to lies spread by former President Donald Trump and his supporters — everyone has an opinion on the state of our elections. To hear the eight — count ‘em, eight! — candidates vying for Secretary of State in this year’s primary election tell it, Washington all-mail voting system is either one of the very best systems in the country, or one that’s in serious need of upgrades, safeguards and in some cases complete overhauls (spoiler: none of the dire assessments hold water).
Now more than ever, integrity and trust are paramount. So who can voters trust?
In a crowded field, the answer is obvious, in the opinion of The News Tribune Editorial Board.
Nonpartisan Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson is the most qualified, diligent and experienced elections supervisor in the field — earning our strong endorsement.
And since voters will ultimately select two candidates to move onto the general election in November, Democrat Steve Hobbs, who was appointed to the position of Secretary of State by Governor Jay Inslee upon Wyman’s departure, serves as our runner-up.
Having witnessed Anderson’s unimpeachable work overseeing Pierce County elections for more than a decade, we have little doubt she’s the best person for the job.
Hobbs, on the other hand, is new to the position, but the interim leader nonetheless impressed the TNT Editorial Board with his knowledge, his story and his straightforward approach to an important role that has historically flown under the radar.
Here’s how we reached our decision:
It’s no great secret that Pierce County residents are more familiar with Anderson’s work over the last 12 years than anywhere in the state. So while her campaign’s dominant theme is her nonpartisan independence — and it’s one of the reasons we’re endorsing her candidacy — we’re largely drawing from a wealth of firsthand experience covering the Pierce County Auditor’s office under Anderson’s leadership. Frankly, we’d be negligent not to.
Anderson’s record overseeing Pierce County elections has been impeccable and award-winning. She has constantly been a champion of fairness, transparency, equity and expanding access to voting — the point that her obsession has become the stuff of local legend — and she’s been equally adamant about rising above the partisan fray in the process. The importance of the latter can’t be overstated in a world where distrust between the two major political parties is more fevered than it’s ever been.
Think about it: Prior to announcing her candidacy for Secretary of State, Anderson spearheaded an effort that would have made the post she’s leaving, Pierce County Auditor, an appointed position. Anderson also supports Wyman’s proposal to make Secretary of State a nonpartisan position. In other words, she’s no career politician; election integrity is her driving motivation.
Prior to being elected Auditor in 2009, Anderson, 57, served for five years as an at-large member of the Tacoma City Council. That’s a nearly 20-year track record in Pierce County, and Anderson has built a local resume and reputation that speaks for itself.
“I think that voters deserve a choice,” Anderson told The News Tribune Editorial Board during the endorsement process. “This will be the first time in history that voters have had an opportunity to cast a ballot for an experienced, professional elections administrator who doesn’t have any political strings attached.”
In our opinion, a vote for Anderson is one well cast. While the “nonpartisan” element of her campaign might be what’s garnered the most attention, she has much more than a label going for her.
Hobbs, 52, is also worth voter consideration.
A former state senator in the 44th Legislative District, Hobbs — who is of Japanese descent and became the first person of color to hold the office of Secretary of State when he was appointed — has clearly been up to the task. Known as a moderate in the state legislature, in many ways his selection by Inslee felt political at the time, but Hobb’s performance has rendered such concerns moot. In particular, Hobbs’ military background has been a strength. He’s a lieutenant colonel in the Washington Army National Guard and has tours in Kosovo and Iraq under his belt.
While Hobbs hasn’t been on the job for long, he told the TNT Editorial Board that, among other things, he’s put an emphasis on improving voter outreach, responding to cybersecurity threats and countering misinformation. It was clear the state’s elections are in competent hands.
Other candidates in the race include Republicans Bob Haglund, Keith Wagoner and Mark Miloscia. Of the three, Wagoner — a state senator from Sedro Woolley — is the strongest, but none convinced us they were equipped to pick up Wyman’s torch.
Anderson and Hobbs deserve to face off in November’s general election.
News Tribune election endorsements reflect the views of our Editorial Board and are written by opinion editor Matt Driscoll. Other board members are: Stephanie Pedersen, News Tribune president and editor; Jim Walton, community representative; and Pamela Transue, a community representative who serves during election season. The Editorial Board operates independently from the newsroom and does not influence the work of news reporting and editing staffs. We do not endorse any candidates who do not interview with us. For questions, email matt.driscoll@thenewstribune.com.