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Eye On Boise

Idaho Democrats head north to recruit volunteers

By KIMBERLEE KRUESI, Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Democratic Party is sending field organizers up north for the first time since pulling a volunteer nearly a year ago amid intimidation accusations.

Democratic leaders announced this week that the move is part of a statewide effort to locate volunteers and train activists in an overwhelming Republican-dominant state.

"When we put more boots on the ground, more Idahoans hear about our values and our solutions," Idaho Democratic Party Chairman Bert Marley said in a prepared statement. "When that happens, more Idahoans inevitably understand we are truly the party that fights for the best interests of Idaho's workers, families, businesses, and communities."

The party said it purposefully chose to begin in the small city of Sandpoint after raising concerns of possible voter intimidation and interference last August. Currently, just one Democrat holds a legislative seat up north.

According to police reports, a Democratic volunteer was approached at various times by people he believed to be supporters of state GOP Rep. Heather Scott. He said they intimidated him by photographing his vehicle in town and at his rural residence in the middle of the night.

However, an investigation by the Idaho attorney general's office found no evidence of malicious harassment or stalking in the alleged incidents.

"This is a big deal. If Idaho is going to start making better decisions, it's going to be Bonner County that starts first" said Sylvia Humes, chair of Bonner County Democrats.

This is the party's first major political event in preparation for the 2018 election, they have yet to announce candidates for statewide races. On the other hand, the more prominent Republican candidates have already launched their campaigns for top positions like governor and the open 1st Congressional District.

Idaho's minority Democratic party lost four legislative seats to Republicans during the 2016 November election in the state's few left-leaning districts. There are now just 11 House Democrats and six Senate Democrats inside the 105-member Statehouse. This has led the party with little room to try to influence policy decisions.

Yet northern Idaho has become a central point for Democrats, who often use Scott and other well-known far-right lawmakers as examples of the state GOP's weaknesses.

Scott was temporarily stripped of her legislative assignments during the first week of this year's Idaho session after she commented to a fellow female lawmaker that women only advance in the Legislature if they trade sexual favors.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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