The Skinner Streak is over; we wish her well

After winning her last two elections by near 2-to-1 walkovers -- the last one after being diagnosed with colon cancer -- state Rep. Mary Skinner has finally found someone who can take her out: the Yakima Republican herself.

Skinner surprised the local political scene Wednesday when she announced she will not seek re-election to an unprecedented eighth two-year term as a state representative from the 14th District, which is noted for long-serving House members. Former Rep. Jim Clements, a Selah Republican, was elected to six terms, along with Skinner. But he left the House during the last one for a short appointment in the state Senate, then lost that seat to Yakima Republican Curtis King in November.

The late Marjorie Lynch, a Yakima Republican, served five terms starting in 1963.

Skinner's announcement was even more surprising because she had indicated in March that she would seek another term. She missed 277 votes, 41 percent of the votes taken in the House this year, during the days she traveled from Olympia to Yakima for chemotherapy. When she indicated she would seek re-election, she said she was exploring the possibility of moving the treatments to Olympia if re-elected.

Skinner said her decision to retire, effective in January when her current term ends, was motivated by the need to allow others to step into public service and her desire to spend "more quality time" with her husband, Hal, and family in Yakima.

"I do feel fine and I want people to know that my retirement has absolutely nothing to do with my health," she said in a news release. "However, when you have faced cancer, you begin to view life in a different perspective. For me, I have a fuller appreciation of life and of those close friends and family members important in my life."

That's certainly reason enough for stepping away from the grind of legislative sessions.

Qualities we've admired about Skinner over the years are her sincerity, courage of convictions and commitment to her constituents.

Skinner hasn't been one to seek publicity on hot-button issues, but she left her mark on many that were sensible and necessary. She sponsored Anton's Law, which requires child booster seats in cars, and which was named after young Anton Skeen, a one-time Yakima resident who was killed in a rollover accident when a seat belt failed to restrain him. He was 4 years old at the time.

She successfully backed legislation to double fines for speeding in school zones and improve senior citizen access to long-term care, and supported various local transportation improvement projects, including the Selah overpass, and extension of the Valley Mall Boulevard and overpass. She even championed the new state poet laureate.

While she may have caught the local political establishment flat-footed with her decision not to run again, we do admire the fact that she will serve out her current term. There will be no interim appointment of another Republican, as there would if she had been re-elected and then stepped down, a tactic seen as improving chances of the appointee when and if he or she runs in the next general election.

That sets up the potential for a lively election this year. A weeklong filing period begins June 2. The primary election is Aug. 19 and this year will feature the potential for the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, to advance to the Nov. 4 general election.

Republicans will be trying to hold on to seats they have owned since the last incumbent Democrat, Dave Lemmon of Selah, was defeated in 1994 by Clements. Skinner won the other open seat that year by defeating Democrat Joe Walkenhauer, garnering 61 percent of the vote and launching the Skinner Streak.

Stay tuned.

Skinner says she will remain active in the community, and for that we're thankful. She has much to offer.

In the meantime, we wish her well and all the best in every regard as she steps away from an extended period of distinguished public service. In an age of politicians who too often seem full of themselves, Mary Skinner came across as a true public servant, willing to take on hard work without demanding a lot of credit.

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

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