For decades Lincoln has been fortunate to be represented by a cadre of talented and experienced state senators — some of the most respected in the Legislature.

Thanks to term limits, that era is drawing to an end. This year Sen. Dave Landis, with 28 years second only to Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers in seniority, and Sen. Chris Beutler, who has served 23 years, are among those barred from re-election. They will leave big shoes to fill.

On the positive side, the forced retirement of veteran lawmakers has opened opportunities for new talent. Across the state, fields are crowded as newcomers vie for open seats.

Today we begin offering our endorsements for the May 9 primary, starting with three Lincoln legislative districts. As always, our endorsements are offered on the belief that they stimulate thought and discussion.

Our endorsement editorials give our reasons for supporting candidates and other ballot proposals. It’s up to readers to decide how much weight to give to our conclusions.

District 26

Vying to replace Sen. Marian Price to represent this district in northeast Lincoln are businessman Steve Guittar, former television reporter Amanda M. McGill and Iraqi War veteran Sean Zehtab.

The Journal Star believes that Guittar and McGill are best suited to move on to the general election.

Guittar’s experience in business and civic leadership have helped him develop the skills to succeed in the legislative arena. He has served as president of the University Place Business Association and various advisory boards to city government. Guittar would be a good voice for small businesses on legislative issues.

Guittar understands how lack of funding for street construction is an obstacle to growth and job creation in Lincoln. He has pledged to be a strong voice in the Legislature for returning more gasoline tax revenue to the Capital City.

McGill’s experience as a journalist has exposed her to recent high-profile legislative issues, such as the meth epidemic and sex offenders. She has excellent communication skills and is a quick study on new concepts.

Now working for New Digital, Inc. an online publishing firm, McGill said she would be a fulltime legislator.

District 28

Contending for the legislative seat to be vacated by Sen. Chris Beutler are university professor Bill Avery, retired firefighter Mark Munger, business owner Rick Poore, and computer instructor Bob Swanson.

Of the four, the Journal Star suggests that Avery and Munger are best qualified to advance to the general election.

A longtime observer and participant in local politics, Avery, a political science professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is exceptionally qualified to hit the ground running when the class of newcomers sweeps into the Legislature next year.

One of the most attractive features of Avery’s record is his longtime support of good government. As a member of Common Cause, Avery has supported a strong open meetings law, financial disclosure and ethics legislation.

He lists his priorities as support for education, job creation and laws that reduce the influence of special interests. Avery said he is particularly interested in using his background in international trade to open new markets for Nebraska products and services. Avery specializes in international trade at UNL and has traveled extensively to do research.

Munger, who retired from the Lincoln Fire Department in 2004, founded a small window cleaning business in 1981. G&M Window and Building Service now has 20 employees and serves commercial and residential clients in the region. Munger said he wants to work for a more balanced approach to funding education, away from reliance on property taxes.

District 46

Competing to become the successor to Sen. Dave Landis are Carol J. Brown, Danielle Nantkes and LaRae J. Eifert.

Brown and Nantkes are best positioned to advance to the general election.

Brown has earned a degree of notoriety for her work with neighborhood groups in Lincoln. She has served as chair of the Mayor’s Neighborhood Roundtable and was the neighborhood representative on the Infrastructure Finance Committee.

As co-owner with her husband of North Star Jewelry, Brown has a real-life grasp of the challenges that face small businesses. Brown supports tax incentives that promote economic development and jobs that pay decent wages, but says she wants more accountability in such programs.

As a former nurse, Brown also has hands-on experience with medical issues, which are growing in importance in the state as Medicaid costs have risen to become one of the biggest expenditures in the state budget.

Nantkes, an attorney who works with the Nebraska Appleseed Center, seems thoroughly informed on issues and legislative procedures. Her ideological bent, however, creates deep concern. On her Web site Nantkes takes credit for drafting Lincoln’s so-called living wage ordinance, which has caused one problem after another for the community. She promises, however, to work for job creation as a state legislator. If she focuses her considerable capabilities on that approach she could do some good for her district.