Sen. Tim Bee is a reasonably moderate Republican with a good track record on education. We certainly need more moderate Republicans in office. So why aren’t we endorsing him?

For one thing, Bee is responsible for the presence of Proposition 102 on this year’s ballot. Beyond that, we’d rather see him in the state Senate than representing us in Washington, where moderate Republicans tend to get pulled to the right.

Most importantly, we don’t see any reason to get rid of Gabrielle Giffords. She’s far from your standard liberal: Giffords, a former Republican, is a moderate Democrat who supports strong borders and a strong military. She even owns a gun, while Bee does not. She’s also worked for veterans’ benefits and tax credits for military families. In short, she’s a good fit for the reliably moderate District 8.

We’re impressed by her enthusiasm for solar power, an issue that didn’t get much attention around here before Giffords’ election. We’re also impressed by Giffords’ interest in hearing what her constituents actually think: she holds regular “”Congress on Your Corner”” events at supermarkets and malls where she spends hours talking with them. That’s the mark of a devoted representative, not just a politician.

Justyn Dillingham, a former intern for Rep. Giffords, recused himself from this endorsement.