The Municipal League has conducted its annual review of candidates running for local elected office.
In Kirkland’s 45th and 48th Legislative districts, Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, was the only candidate to receive the highest mark of outstanding.
Seeking his fourth term as a state legislator, Goodman is running for Pos. 1 against Republican Joel Hussey, who was rated very good, and Kirkland Democrat Jacob Bond, who was rated not qualified.
For the 45th District’s Pos. 2, both incumbent Rep. Larry Springer, D-Kirkland, and Republican Jim Thatcher, of Union Hill, were rated very good.
Both candidates for the 48th District’s Pos. 2 also received “very good” ratings, including Kirkland Democrat Cyrus Habib and Republican Hank Myers, who is also a Redmond City Council member.
For the 48th District’s Pos. 1, Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, was rated very good, while the Municipal League rated Republican Bill Hirt as not qualified.
Over the past four weeks, 70 volunteers devoted more than 2,000 hours to the non-partisan process. To determine candidate ratings, the volunteers reviewed candidate questionnaires, studied the public record, spoke with references, and conducted interviews with candidates. Committee members then rated each candidate on four criteria: involvement, character, effectiveness and knowledge.
The full list of candidate evaluation ratings is posted on the League’s website at www.munileagueratings.org, along with candidate questionnaires and campaign websites.
About the Municipal League Ratings
The ratings are not endorsements. They assess each candidate’s potential to be effective in office and ability to serve the community.
Outstanding – Has made numerous outstanding contributions requiring skills related to the office, is a path-finding and respected leader, brings knowledge and creativity to issues facing the office.
Very Good – Makes significant contributions, is a skilled builder of consensus, inspires confidence in the way he/she would serve, is thorough and attentive to issues.
Good – Has been active and effective in many roles, is capable of moving people to productive action, has strong record of participation in problem solving, shows satisfactory commitment to tackling issues.
Adequate – Has a record of participation and interest, is effective on specific issues, has provoked questions about suitability as an office holder, will need significant time/energy to fill gaps in knowledge.
Not Qualified – Doesn’t appear engaged, has a record that casts doubt on ability to be productive, hasn’t demonstrated ability to deal with responsibilities of office, has narrow focus, inflexible attitude or is otherwise troubling.
