Re-elect Dave Somers in Snohomish County Council District 5.

Snohomish County Councilman Dave Somers, who drew three opponents in the Aug. 18 primary, is endorsed for another four-year term.

Council District 5 tracks the path of Highway 2, east through Snohomish, Monroe, Sultan, Gold Bar and Index. Democrat Somers is looking to make a bit of electoral history.

After 25 years with the council form of government, District 5 has yet to give a council member two consecutive terms. Somers was elected in 1997, defeated for re-election in 2001, and re-elected in 2005.

This campaign attracted three Republican candidates. The best qualified are Snohomish businessman Steve Dana, a longtime restaurant owner and former mayor, and Lake Stevens Mayor Vern Little, a Boeing quality manager. Dana and Little have long résumés of community service. Somers' challengers can sound like his biggest supporters. They like his opposition to the concept of fully contained communities, such as the enormous one proposed at Lake Roesiger. Somers' best-financed opponent is not on the ballot, developer Dave Barnett.

All the candidates express doubts about the oversized role that housing construction and residential development have taken in Snohomish County, and support broader economic development.

His opponents credit Somers with tough, steady work in helping the county reconcile a nasty budget deficit. Somers supported the decision to have Sheriff John Lovick assume responsibility for the county jail. So do the challengers. Somers' work to improve safety on Highway 2 is acknowledged, but they want more.

The only complaint seems to be that Somers does not get around his district enough. Something to work on in his next term. Somers is endorsed in the primary and for the general election. The race attracted good people, but they did not bring a campaign.