The North Kitsap Herald encourages voters to elect the following candidates on Nov. 4.

The Herald makes its endorsements based on written and in-person interviews with the candidates, coverage of candidate forums, and the Herald Community Advisory Board’s series of editorial endorsement interviews.

23rd District state House:
Sherry Appleton, position 1
Drew Hansen, position 2

The state Legislature is under court order to fully fund basic education per the state Constitution. The Legislature has work to do to meet that commitment. But of the candidates, Appleton and Hansen have a better understanding of what it’s going to take to get there, because they’re in the middle of the fight.

Appleton and Hansen want to fully fund education, and they want to do it without hurting our vulnerable communities, such as aging residents, veterans, and those in need of health and mental-health care.

Both have a record of working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to introduce and pass legislation. Appleton worked with a Republican colleague on community development legislation to help small cities and towns incentivize businesses by funding infrastructure projects. Almost every bill introduced by members of her Committee on Community Development, Housing, Tribal Affairs, Veterans and Tourism was advanced unanimously.

Hansen worked with Republican counterparts to expand computer science education, which will help the region’s high-tech businesses; on legislation to get derelict and abandoned vessels out of our waters, protecting our environment and marine businesses, such as fisheries; and other legislation to help veterans get into college courses and help small businesses work with community colleges to train their workers. In this term, Gov. Inslee signed eight of his bills into law.

“I have regular meetings or conference calls with my Republican counterparts in the House, where we work cooperatively on legislation,” Hansen said. “I’ve worked closely with legislators from both parties to move these bills forward, and I look forward to doing similar work if I am elected in 2014.”

Bipartisanship is the path to solving the state’s ills. Appleton and Hansen are committed to it.

Learn more: League of Women Voters candidates forum, Oct. 15

County Assessor: Paul Andrews

Andrews has experience in land surveying, property assessment, and technology. As senior project manager for the Pierce County assessor/treasurer’s office, he converted that office paper-based to digital, and has used those skills for 19 years to improve accessibility at the Kitsap County Assessor’s Office.

He has experience working with government from the outside and well as in, and has worked to create applications that make the assessor’s office and its records more accessible to users. He expects demands on the office will grow as the economy improves, and he wants to continue to create applications that can help the office meet user needs and be more transparent.

Andrews has the best experience and knowledge for the job.

County Auditor: Dolores Gilmore

Gilmore has worked for the Kitsap County auditor’s office for 30 years and for 20 years has served as the county’s elections officer. As elections officer, she has implemented innovative accessible-voting programs. The department received a national award this year for implementing accessible-voting options for voters with disabilities, including an accessible online voters’ guide and ballot delivery system, and early accessible voting at locations throughout the county. She collaborated with accessibility advocates, community leaders, and elected officials in developing those programs. She and the committee collaborate on public outreach to promote accessible voting.

As auditor, she would continue to protect the integrity of Kitsap County’s elections. She said the auditor’s office has lost employees to budget cuts, although the workload stayed the same. She said cross-training employees from the different divisions of the auditor’s office can help streamline the office workload and improve efficiency.

Gilmore is clearly the best choice.

County Clerk: Dave Peterson

Dave Peterson’s experience as clerk, his understanding of the job and its responsibilities, and his efforts to make the office more efficient and accessible make him the clear choice. The county clerk is the official record keeper for the Superior Court. Peterson has been working to make court records electronic and more accessible to the public, streamline case management and document management by establishing e-filing of court documents, and seeking new ways to assist residents as they interact with the justice system.

Let’s let Peterson continue doing his good work.

County Coroner:  Greg Sandstrom

Sandstrom, coroner for 16 years, will continue to partner with other counties to share services and expenses on a larger scale, saving Kitsap County money; and continue to evaluate practices and policies to find efficiencies and cost savings wherever possible.

His priority is to “bring every asset the Coroner’s Office has to the table to prevent the unnecessary loss of life in Kitsap County.” The Cribs for Kids Program, which he started last year and is funded by donations, provides safe sleeping conditions for babies from low-income families. He’s active in the countywide Suicide Prevention effort, and is working with law enforcement and others in developing improved response to individuals with mental health issues. He works with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and first responders to put on mock crashes at high schools. He partners with the U.S. Navy and others to provide premature death prevention programs.

Sandstrom is the best choice for the job.