Ballots for the Aug. 17 primary election will be mailed to us starting July 27, and as Sharon Nelson is running for the state Senate, we will select two candidates to advance to the November election to succeed her in the House of Representatives for the 34th Legislative District.

Three Democrats and one self-described “independent” want to join Sharon and Rep. Eileen Cody in Olympia. Vashon Islanders should support Joe Fitzgibbon, by far the most qualified candidate and the most familiar with Island issues.

Forget Joe’s youth (23), and even younger appearance. He has more experience in the Legislature than the other candidates combined. He has been Sharon Nelson’s legislative assistant the past three sessions and in the interims. Sharon endorses Joe, as do nine other present state Representatives, all advocates for tax reform, ferry and transportation funding, education funding, employee and consumer protection, environmental protection, public financing of elections and LGBT civil rights.

Joe is the chairman of the Burien Planning Commission. He is endorsed by five of seven Burien City Council members and by a long list of unions, including those that represent Thriftway and Island Manor employees. Joe is endorsed by Washington Conservation Voters and by the Sierra Club.

In my years as a citizen lobbyist in Olympia, I have interacted with a lot of legislators and staff in Olympia. Rarely have I seen a staff member so ready to hold a House seat. His command of the bills, the process and the players, and the values that he holds, will impress anyone.

Please visit Joe’s Web site, at www.joefitzgibbon.com, where Joe invites you to call him if you have further questions. I submit these opinions as a private citizen.

— Ivan Weiss