The Seattle Times endorses Sally Bagshaw and Jessie Israel for Seattle City Council

CHANGE is coming to the Seattle City Council, which will become a more reasonable place to do business if voters make wise choices in this year's primary-election contests.

There are three primary races, two for open seats vacated by retiring Councilmember Richard McIver and Councilmember Jan Drago, who is leaving to run for mayor.

For Position 4, Drago's seat, the clear choice is Sally Bagshaw. Her well-researched views on most every issue assure she would help raise the level of discourse and decision-making.

The field of candidates seeking to replace Drago is impressive. Many are interesting and smart, with a shout-out to newcomer Dorsol Plants who is well spoken and insightful.

But the most compelling candidate is Bagshaw, who stands so significantly ahead of the others that voters should send her to the council posthaste.

Bagshaw was chief of the civil division in the King County prosecutor's office for eight years under the late stalwart pol Norm Maleng. She led a staff of lawyers who provided legal advice to former executive Ron Sims, the sheriff, County Council, Metro transit and Harborview Medical Center. Earlier at the University of Washington, she led efforts to include minority and women-owned businesses in state government public contracts.

For Bagshaw, it's not just about past accomplishments. It's very much about how she approaches current problems. During the snowstorm, she penned a lengthy memo on how cities can best cope with snow problems.

She calls for much greater communication between snowplows and buses and a real-time Web site providing immediate information about what streets are open and what bus routes are running.

Bagshaw has a practical, research-based sense about her. She supported the downtown tunnel for some time. Yet she is keenly aware of affordability and job-loss issues facing many families in Seattle.

Incumbents deserve a strong re-election challenge. That is just what Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata, who was elected in 1997, will get if he faces Jessie Israel in the general election for Position 6. Marty Kaplan is the third candidate in the race. He has a commendable record of community involvement but does not rise to the level of Israel or Licata.

Licata is both popular — he won last time with 75 percent of the vote — and controversial because of his sometimes-contrarian votes and comments. That dissent can be spot on as was his opposition to the first version of a waterfront tunnel. Or it can be damaging as was his stance toward the Sonics. His comments that the Sonics added nothing to the city were just wrong and poisoned the debate, which ended with the team moving to Oklahoma City.

Israel is a lively and compelling candidate. She has a holistic view of the city and clear understanding of the issues.

Seattle has become increasingly tolerant of bad behavior on the streets. Refreshingly, Israel sees public safety as something to take action on immediately. Licata has done some good work in this area pushing for more patrols and more openness in the police department. Even so, Seattle's streets have become less welcoming during the past decade.

Israel wants more of a police presence in the neighborhoods and has some intriguing plans to prevent youth violence. Between now and the general election Israel should flesh out proposals on how to help businesses and neighborhoods dealing with public drunkenness and aggressive panhandling.

Israel would be a good voice of reason on a council that has ignored the reality of modern-day transportation. Rails and bikes are good, she wants to encourage their use, but so are roads. She understands that roads are a vital part of the transportation mix along with strong bus, bike, pedestrian and rail systems.

The Times endorses Jessie Israel and Nick Licata.

Endorsement for Position 8 coming Thursday.