Spokane7
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Former House Resources Committee Chairman Cameron Wheeler, R-Ririe, now a state Fish & Game commissioner, resigned from the board of The Common Interest yesterday after founder Keith Allred told him he was running for governor as a Democrat. “Common Interest was nonpartisan, and that was the beauty of it,” Wheeler said. “So when Keith put a D in front of his name, honestly, I’m appointed by Butch Otter to the Fish & Game Commission, so it put me in a tough spot. So I figured the only thing to do that was honorable was to resign, and Keith understood that, he was very comfortable with it.”
Wheeler said he’s still a fan of The Common Interest idea, which sought to get citizens more involved in their government to promote common interests, as opposed to special interests. “I thought his concept was good and it made a lot of sense to me,” he said. “I always believed there was solutions to public policy and there’s better ways of doing it.” As for Allred, Wheeler said, “He’s a sharp, intelligent person, and I’m sure this is a well thought-out decision.” He added, “I think he had some influence, I think he did some good things. I wouldn’t have been on the board if I didn’t believe in his concepts and in Keith himself.”
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Sisyphus on December 11 at 11:59 a.m.
So its OK if a Republican can be part of a non-partisan organization but not a Democrat.
fortboise on December 11 at 12:27 p.m.
Well, that’s a little too easy, Sis. There were Ds and Rs together, and Allred had eschewed a party label.
Allred’s statement suggests he’s picked up affiliation rather lightly, and intends to go his own way, with the blessing of the leading Dems. But he is running against Wheeler’s current boss (presumably), for the boss’ job.
Allred says that he and the TCI Board have larger (national) plans for the organization, which would have to include some sort of succession plan should he win the election. It would have been clever (but not so easy!) to find a successor to roll out at the same time as he announced his candidacy….