The key questions voters hoping to flip the 8th District need to ask are: who can beat Dino Rossi? And, once elected, who would be most effective in getting something done?

On both scores my choice is Shannon Hader, the only candidate with federal government experience. This is important. While it is refreshing that none of the three Democrats is a professional politician, intimate understanding of how the federal government functions (or doesn’t) is a critical asset in a candidate.

In her leadership position within the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Hader was in charge of its global HIV and TB program. With that came a $2.4 billion federal budget, which she managed with transparency and accountability and used effectively to drive results. This will bring her instant respect and influence in Congress. It’s rare for a Congressman or woman to have actually managed a federal budget, much less done so effectively.

Her positions on issues are sufficiently nuanced that she will be able to reach across the aisle and build coalitions. Plus, she is an Auburn native with deep roots in the district.

Shannon Hader is the candidate who can win and who will go on to be a fantastic Congresswoman.

– Thomas Heller