Endorsement roundup

Tuesday, Nov. 6, is three weeks away, but Clark County ballots were mailed on Monday and will arrive in the next day or so. If you do not receive your ballot by Monday, Oct. 22, call the elections office: 360-397-2345.

Voter turnout is a popular topic, especially among political party leaders. Many experts say the presidential race will be decided by which party wins the turnout race. But in terms of local pride, it’s documented that Washingtonians, and especially Clark County voters, answer the call in presidential elections. In 2008, state leaders were ecstatic when 84.6 percent of voters participated, breaking a 64-year-old record. In Clark County, it was even higher: 85.3 percent. In 2004, our local turnout (82.9 percent) also beat the statewide turnout (82.2 percent).

For more information about the Nov. 6 election, visit Clark County Elections.

Listed below are Columbian endorsements. Candidates are listed in the order they appear on the elections office’s sample ballot.

(i) = incumbent

STATEWIDE BALLOT MEASURES

Initiative 1185, requiring two-thirds legislative approval for tax increases — Vote “Yes.”

Initiative 1240, creating public charter schools — Vote “Yes.”

Referendum 74, upholding legislation legalizing same-sex marriage — Vote “Approved.”

Initiative 502, legalizing recreational use of marijuana — Vote “Yes.”

Senate Joint Resolutions — Vote “Approved” on both SJR 8221 and SJR 8223.

Advisory votes — Vote “Maintained” on both Advisory Vote No. 1 and Advisory Vote No. 2.

FEDERAL OFFICES

President — Mitt Romney, R.

U.S. Senator — Maria Cantwell, D (i).

3rd Congressional District — Jaime Herrera Beutler, R (i).

STATEWIDE OFFICES

Governor — Rob McKenna, R.

Lieutenant governor — Bill Finkbeiner, R.

Secretary of state — Kim Wyman, R.

State treasurer — Jim McIntire, D (i).

State auditor — James Watkins, R.

Attorney general — Reagan Dunn, R.

Commissioner of Public Lands — Peter Goldmark, D (i).

Insurance commissioner — Mike Kreidler, D (i).

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 17

State senator — Tim Probst, D.

State representatives — Monica Stonier, D, and Paul Harris, R (i).

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 18

State senator — Ann Rivers, R (i, appointed).

State representatives — Adrian Cortes, R, and Liz Pike, R.

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 49

State senator — Annette Cleveland, D.

State representatives — Sharon Wylie, D (i), and Jim Moeller, D (i).

STATE SUPREME COURT

Justice, Position 9 — Sheryl Gordon McCloud.

CLARK COUNTY

Commissioner, District 1 — Joe Tanner, D.

Commissioner, District 2 — Marc Boldt, R (i).

CLARK PUBLIC UTILITIES

Commissioner, District 1 — Julia Anderson.

LOCAL BALLOT MEASURES

C-Tran Proposition 1, one-tenth of one percentage point sales tax increase to fund light rail and bus rapid transit — Vote “Rejected.”

Parks Proposition 1, creating Metropolitan Park District with property taxing authority — Vote “Against.”