San Juan County Councilman Kevin Ranker has been endorsed by The Bellingham Herald for 40th District state Senate.

Ranker is a Democrat. Also on the ballot is Republican Steve Van Luven, former state representative from Bellevue now living on Samish Island.

The Bellingham Herald cited Ranker’s ability “to spell out a clear potential answer” for most problems in the district. To read the endorsement, click here.

Ranker has 15 years of experience developing and advancing legislation, community development strategies, and conservation initiatives. He was formerly the director of Friends of the San Juans. He was elected to the former Board of County Commissioners in 2004.

As a county councilman, Ranker has taken on additional responsibilities that have allowed him to work on such issues as agricultural preservation, education, the environment, health care, and senior citizen and veterans’ needs. He lives on San Juan Island with his wife and daughter.