Two sitting senators are pitted against one another in Idaho District 9. Here’s our pick

Sen. Abby Lee, R-Fruitland, has done an admirable job representing Legislative District 9 as it exists today. Republican primary voters in the new, post-redistricting District 9 would do well to keep her in that post.

Lee is a traditional, reasonable conservative. Lee lists among her top priorities resolving property taxes, education and transportation investments. We don’t agree with her about everything, but we recognize the significant value she brings to the table in the Senate.

Lee’s principal opponent is Sen. Jim Rice, R-Caldwell, who currently represents Legislative District 10. Two political newcomers, Kayla Dunn and Jordan Marques, are also running for the post. They each have expressed views too extreme to earn an endorsement.

Rice has made a number of important contributions since he was first appointed by Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter. He played an important role in securing funding for the widening of Interstate 84 and preventing the import of costly invasive species like zebra and quagga mussels.

But Lee has an equally impressive record. Serving as assistant majority leader, she has provided leadership in the Senate, helping to keep it a more collegial and serious chamber, compared to the raucous House. She has made serious, long-lasting improvements to Idaho’s foster care system, that will serve vulnerable children and families for generations.

Lee also has unique experience in Idaho’s education system, through her job at Treasure Valley Community College. That background is valuable because it brings hands-on experience with students destined for a variety of career fields, a vital asset for a state that desperately needs more students to obtain degrees and other credentials after graduating high school.

Lee has worked to protect local control and local budgets, something of vital importance as the Legislature has worked to expand its reach ever deeper into schools, cities and counties. Often that has come in the form of big unfunded mandates, accompanied by the contradictory attack that local governments are spending too much.

But this, the relationship between state and local government, is the part of Rice’s record where we are most skeptical.

Rice was a supporter of House Bill 389, which sought to limit property taxes by putting strict restraints on the growth of local budgets. That bill has been an utter disaster. It in particular put the squeeze on the cities that are growing the fastest.

As Rachel Spacek reported, shortly after the bill was enacted, Caldwell had to rush to freeze residential construction. That is the definition of failed policy.

More serious efforts to control rising residential property taxes will, at least in part, involve raising the homeowners exemption. For the last six years, since the Legislature froze the exemption, the tax burden has steadily and automatically shifted from business and agriculture onto homeowners. Raising the exemption would shift it back.

Lee said she thinks there is no other option. Addressing the property tax crisis will require using the homeowners exemption. Rice is broadly opposed to raising it.

Lee opposed H389, and she was right to do so. More broadly, she has a record of supporting true local control, rather than continual concentration of government power within the state Legislature.

The decision between Rice and Lee was not the easiest. But in the end, we felt Lee’s experience and qualifications — and somewhat more reasonable policy stances — gave her an edge. She has our endorsement.