Owen deserves another term

One thing stands out in a review of the duties of the office of lieutenant governor: It is pretty much what the officeholder wants to make it.

Technically, the state Constitution requires that the lieutenant governor fill in as governor if the state's chief executive officer dies or is unable to perform his or her duties, and serve as the presiding officer of the Senate. Various state laws assign other committee membership duties.

Beyond that it's up to the lieutenant governor to fill out the job description for the position that pays a yearly salary of $93,948 -- the lowest of the nine elected state officials.

Three-term incumbent Brad Owen has opted to use the office as a bully pulpit to bring a strong anti-drug message to young people around the state. He's also heavily into promotion of economic development and foreign trade.

And he's solid at both.

Owen, a Democrat, is being challenged in his bid for a fourth term by Republican Marcia McCraw, who would be the first woman to hold the position. An attorney licensed to practice in four states, she wants to make one of her main priorities the compilation of a statewide database to match nonprofit organizations and willing volunteers. She speaks Mandarin Chinese and some French, Spanish and Japanese, which she thinks would be helpful in further promoting foreign trade.

All things considered, we'll recommend Owen for re-election. As for his prescribed duties, he's never given a governor cause to worry when he or she is out of the state. And we acknowledge his reputation as a fair presiding officer and insistence on order and decorum in the state Senate.

Beyond that, Owen has evolved as a solid and respected ambassador for the state. He is remembered in these parts for an impressive effort in 2003 that brought consulars representing 45 nations on a historic three-day tour of Central Washington. It was a tremendous, unprecedented opportunity for so many trade representatives to join in looking at this area's economy, businesses and diversified agriculture up close. It was a pretty good boost for tourism, too.

We like that kind of enterprise and initiative that Owen routinely demonstrates in his ad-hoc efforts while in office.

Owen has done a good job being what he's supposed to be and we're happy to have him on board. If the state is going to keep on electing lieutenant governors separately from the governor, he's a good fit.

McCraw is an intelligent person with good ideas, but she lacks any significant government experience. Owen, on the other hand, served six years in the state House and 14 in the state Senate before being elected lieutenant governor in 1996.

McCraw does not make the case for unseating the incumbent. Owen, on the other hand, is a solidly performing incumbent who has earned another term.

* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Michael Shepard, Sarah Jenkins, Bill Lee and Karen Troianello.

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