Endorsements we’ll shortly be running in print:

Tomorrow: We go for Democrat Brad Owen and Republican Marcia McCraw for lieutenant governor. Also, Brian Sonntag for state auditor, Mike Kreidler for insurance commissioner, Sam Reed for secretary of state.

Thursday: We endorse state Supreme Court Justices Mary Fairhurst and Charles Johnson for re-election.

Also: Sergio Armijo for re-election to the Pierce County Superior Court.

Also: We endorse Dave Reichert as the Republican candidate and Darcy Burner as the Democratic candidate for a November runoff.

It was a deal the Lakewood City Council couldn’t refuse. Like thousand-dollar bills lying on the sidewalk, begging to be picked up. Something for nothing.

Money’s always tight in city government. So here’s the plan: Bring in enterprises – casinos – that promise instant riches but whose only purpose is to separate Lakewood’s citizens from their money. Then step in to scoop up a big share of the profits – $2.8 million a year, at last count.

That money comes at a price, but it’s beautifully concealed. The little secret is that the casinos’ come-on tends to con the desperate, the poor, the less educated (it cons others, too, just not as easily). Some players inevitably lose control and become problem gamblers.

Gambling does to personal finances what meth does to teeth. Gaming addicts typically run up catastrophic debts. They frequently turn to embezzlement or other kinds of theft. They frequently run their families into bankruptcy. They often lose their wives or husbands. A few commit suicide.

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Score one for the public interest. The Spokesman-Review has released a database of 10,000 people who bought fake degrees from a single Spokane-based diploma mill.

The Justice Department, which prosecuted the owner of the mill, had refused to release the names, citing internal policy. We didn’t think much of a government policy that would allow phony degree holders to continue to cheat the public and employers, and said so earlier this month.

Somehow, the Spokesman-Review got a hold of the list (it’s getting wider distribution these days as investigators forward it to all 50 state

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1. Primary endorsements for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor, and insurance commissioner.

2. The City of Tacoma’s goal of to bring city salaries a notch above market might be worth achieving, but it will have to be weighed against the cost once a huge compensation study is completed.

About our editorials:

If you have comments or questions about these topics, please email them to patrick.ocallahan@thenewstribune.com. Editorials represent the consensus view of The News Tribune’s editorial board.

Want to sit in on a daily ed board meeting? Email cheryl.tucker@thenewstribune.com to make an appointment.

The following endorsements (for the primary only) will appear in Tuesday’s News Tribune:

Ten candidates are running for governor this year and – apologies to the other eight – only two matter.

The race is between Republican Dino Rossi and Democrat Chris Gregoire, the incumbent governor. Gregoire beat Rossi by a flea’s hair in 2004, and the race may well prove tight again this year.

We endorse both of them in the Aug. 19 primary and look forward to a spirited rematch this fall.

The following endorsements for the Aug. 19 primary will appear in Tuesday’s News Tribune:

Stiff competition for this down-ballot race revolves around a question: Should the state treasurer help set policy?

For Allan Martin, it’s all about treasury management.

Jim McIntire would rather talk fiscal policy.
Meanwhile, ChangMook Sohn has a few things to say about economic forecasting, tax regressivity, financial audits and the timing of bond sales.

Still awake? Well, then, welcome to the hottest ticket on this year’s primary election ballot.

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A preview of the endorsements we’ll run on our printed pages the next couple days:

Monday: Why we’re endorsing Terry Bergeson for superintendent of public instruction.

Tuesday: Why we’re endorsing Dino Rossi as the Republican candidate and Chris Gregoire as the Democratic candidate for governor in the August primary.

Also on Tuesday: Why we’re endorsing Allan Martin as the Republican candidate and Chang Mook Sohn as the Democratic candidate for state treasurer.

The following editorial will appear in Monday’s News Tribune:

The incumbent has made mistakes as the state’s public schools chief, but she’s proven her commitment to higher educational standards.

The race for Washington superintendent of public instruction offers voters a healthy menu of candidates, several with strong resumes.

The two leaders are former lawmaker Randy Dorn and the incumbent superintendent, Terry Bergeson. Dorn is a good choice, but we’re sticking with Bergeson.

First, let’s acknowledge Dorn’s considerable strengths. As a former schoolteacher and principal, he knows his way around a classroom. He served in the state House of Representatives from 1987 to 1994 and wound up chairing the House Education Committee.

Since then, Dorn has worked as a motivational speaker, education consultant and leader of the union that represents school secretaries, teacher assistants, computer technicians, bus drivers and other support staff. He’s a credible candidate, and he has drawn the support of the Washington Education Association and others who’ve become disaffected with Bergeson’s stewardship.

We aren’t disaffected.

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