The Seattle PI today covers Ron Sims’ decision to make tax reform the centerpiece of his bid to become Governor.

Last month, Sims’ campaign commissioned focus group surveys of 20 loyal Democrats from King County on the issue of tax reform. According to a summary of those interviews, the participants favored tax reform as a means to a system that would be more fair, business friendly and stable. “Participants … spontaneously identified tax reform as a critical issue facing the state,” reads the report. “… They did express a concern if a candidate raised the specter of an income tax — that it might make the candidate ‘unelectable’ because of well-known controversy surround the issue, but they admired the ‘backbone’ and ‘guts’ that it would take to raise it. “Upon discussion, there was general consensus that this was not an issue to be avoided.”

This is unexpectedly bold. And very, very welcome. Tax reform is definitely the most important issue facing our state, and it’s refreshing to see someone taking the political risk of addressing the big issues head-on.

I hope that this moves the debate, even if Ron fails to gain the nomination.