In the race to replace accomplished state Rep. Sharon Nelson (D-34, W. Seattle, Burien, Vashon, Maury)—a race we've paid a lot of attention to—the Seattle Times endorsed King County Council aide Mike Heavey today.  (Nelson is moving to the state senate.)

The Times thinks Heavey is less of a lockstep Democrat than his main rivals—Joe Fitzgibbon and Marcee Stone, with which we'd agree, particularly on union issues.

The Times writes:

The Seattle Times Editorial Board endorsement goes to Mike Heavey, a Democrat unafraid to say state lawmakers have to do things in a new and different way. He advocates zero-base budgeting, a way of reviewing everything the Legislature pays for and the many services the state provides.

Unlike most of the other candidates in the race to replace Rep. Sharon Nelson, Heavey understands the state's 110,000 employees have to face reality if they wish the state to remain solvent and preserve critical public services.

The state can no longer afford wage and benefit packages that allow employee contributions to health benefits to remain locked at 12 percent when the private sector is paying much more.

In an appropriate juxtapostion, young lefty Fitzgibbon, the green Burien Planning Commission chair (and former Nelson aide), got an endorsement of his own today—the Cascade Bicycle Club, which advocates for bike infrstructure.

PubliCola will be issuing its primary endorsements—including our endorsement in the 34th—on Tuesday.