Mike Kreidler merits election

The Olympian • Published September 04, 2008

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This year's statewide race for insurance commissioner is a near replay of the same contest four years ago when incumbent Mike Kreidler faced challenger John Adams.

Voters in 2004 re-elected Kreidler with a solid 54 percent of the vote in a three-way contest. The Olympian's editorial board strongly recommends that voters return Kreidler to a third term in his rematch with Adams.

The 68-year-old Adams, a Seattle resident, has been in the insurance business for nearly 40 years. He currently serves clients engaged in the ocean marine business. He writes policies insuring international cargo, for processors and those in the fishing industry and for marine repair companies. Adams said before specializing he was broadly educated on personal, life, health and automobile insurance.

Adams is critical of the incumbent, saying Kreid­ler has not made great changes in the office or in its oversight of the insurance industry. Yet when asked his top legislative priorities, Adams said he had none. He would focus on more training for insurance commission staff members, Adams said, because he does not believe they are giving consumers or agents accurate information at times.

Adams is critical of Kreidler's plan to offer every Washington resident catastrophic insurance coverage, claiming Kreidler's plan would drive small employers out of business. But asked for his solution to the crisis in health care, Adams said that's up to the Legislature or Congress to solve and he has no plan of action to offer up to lawmakers.

Adams bills himself as the candidate with lengthy service in the industry. That's true. But his area of expertise -- ocean marine insurance -- is a very narrow segment of the insurance industry and one that does not apply to most consumers.

Kreidler makes a good point when he asks whether consumers are best served by an insurance commissioner who comes from the industry he is supposed to regulate.

Kreidler, 64, of Olympia understands that first and foremost, the insurance commissioner is the advocate for consumers. He has been a strong and vigorous voice against powerful interest groups — whether it's an insurance company trying to convert from nonprofit to for-profit status or a company seeking exorbitant rate increases.

Kreidler said in his term he has saved consumers more than $200 million by rolling back rate requests and helped consumers receive another $100 million from insurance companies who had denied or delayed claims.

In terms of access to insurance coverage, it's worth noting that Kreidler also has rehabilitated three companies on the verge of collapse. He has saved the companies and their clients from turmoil through acquisition from other insurers.

His plan, and top legislative priority, to provide catastrophic insurance coverage to every resident through a payroll and employer tax, is worthy of legislative consideration. He understands that the crisis in health care coverage is unacceptable, and he's at least willing to put a proposal out there for study.

Kreidler is well-known in the South Sound community, having started his career on the North Thurston Public Schools board before moving to the state House and Senate representing the 22nd District. He served one term in Congress.

Kreidler is a highly capable and respected public servant with a strong record of success on behalf of his constituents. Voters should re-elect Mike Kreidler to a third term as insurance commissioner Nov. 4.