No matter what, the vast 7th Legislative District will get a pro-business, social conservative to replace Rep. Bob Sump, who decided not to seek re-election. Voters just have to decide which of the five Republicans is the best.

Two stand out: Sue Lani Madsen, of Edwall, and Shelly Short, of Addy. Both understand that though they would be in the minority in Olympia, they need to find a positive role. Just saying “no” to everything won’t cut it.

Madsen is an architect who started a business that has grown from five to 14 employees. She and her husband also have a small ranching business that rents out goats for weed and brush control. Her engagement in politics was sparked, in part, by the repeated complaints of clients who struggled to comply with regulatory requirements. She figures if she can become a legislator, she can travel upstream and bring common sense to regulations before they’re launched. She has a key endorsement from the National Federation of Independent Business.

Madsen is interested in health care and is past president of the Washington Rural Health Association and serves on a rural advisory committee for the Washington Health Foundation. She says the model of employer-provided coverage is broken, and she wants more competition and affordable choices for individuals. She also wants to find ways to help rural hospitals and clinics retain workers.

On education, she makes good points about the challenges of rural districts. Transportation costs are huge, and the state does not fully fund them, and long trips to school and back stymie participation in advanced placement classes. She’d like to see more online classes.

Shelly Short was one of the most impressive candidates we saw during the interview process. She is bright, knowledgeable and engaged in the issues facing the 7th District. She also has the most government experience, having worked for state Rep. Joel Kretz, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers and former U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt. She has the endorsement of the Building Industry Association.

Short and Madsen have similar beliefs on the issues, but we’re concerned about a controversy involving Short’s husband and a police investigation into checking account irregularities alleged by the Northeast Washington Fair Association. Mitch Short was president of the fair board last year when he began making withdrawals from the account. At the time, the Shorts were behind on a credit card bill. Discover Bank won a $12,328 judgment against the couple, court records show.

There is no evidence that Shelly Short was involved in any wrongdoing, but the couple’s explanations thus far are not satisfactory. The fact that she declined to return phone calls to an inquiring reporter is troubling.

Voters have a solid choice in Madsen. She’s also a safer bet.