Endorsement: Elofson's skills give the edge in close match

We hate it when this happens. Only one of the eight Superior Court positions on the ballot this year is being contested and it pits two excellent candidates against each other.

That would be Yakima attorneys David Elofson and Rob Lawrence-Berrey. They are seeking the seat held for the last 20 years by Robert Hackett, who is not seeking re-election.

The fact that two quality candidates have come forward is pretty much a win/win situation for the public, but it does make it tough when it comes to recommending one over the other. This editorial board talked to them in a side-by-side interview, did the research and we'll go with Yakima attorney David Elofson on a close call.

Our decision was influenced by a Yakima County Bar Association poll released Tuesday that showed 85 local attorneys giving both good marks.

In the five categories -- legal ability, temperament, integrity, relevant legal experience and diligence and dedication -- Elofson picked up 41 per cent of the total votes in the "exceptionally well qualified" category and 35 percent of the "well qualified" ratings. Lawrence-Berrey's numbers were 24 percent and 37 percent, respectively, in the same categories.

So while the ratings were close, as we expected them to be, Elofson consistently edged Lawrence-Berrey, a former president of the county bar association. That's pretty much the way we saw it in our discussions before the poll came out.

We were impressed with both. But only one will win the seat in the Aug. 19 primary election.

Both are civil litigants, but we believe Elofson will have no problem joining with the seven other Superior Court judges to deal with a huge case backlog in both civil and criminal cases. During our interview, he acknowledged the backlog has gotten worse for a variety of reasons. He feels all the judges must work together and with all the lawyers involved, including the prosecutor's office, to expedite the cases and move them through the system.

"We've gotten into some bad habits" that he wants to help change. He thinks that, on balance, the current judges are a good group and are becoming more aggressive in moving cases along.

During our interview, Lawrence-Berrey was a big believer in the need for "hard-working" judges making a difference. We believe that description best fits Elofson.

In him we see a well-qualified judge who will be noted for an unflappable, steady demeanor. He represents the potential for a well-organized and productive courtroom in a local judicial system that can use all of his type of skills that it can get.

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

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