Huckleberries hears … that the election of former Demo strategist Mike Kennedy (pictured celebrating) to the Coeur d’Alene City Council has unhinged Kootenai County Republicans. Seems the Elephants believe that there are too many “rats” – their word, not Huckleberries’ – at City Hall. And that Mayor Sandi Bloem has been too lax in checking pachyderm pedigree. After all, they harrumph, City Attorney Mike Gridley ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for the Idaho Legislature. And Demo Ryan Hill was recently appointed to the Coeur d’Alene P&Z committee. The local R Central Committee already is bothered by Democrats masquerading as Republicans in their ranks. And they are worried mightily that Kennedy could use the nonpartisan City Council office to jump to partisan higher office, such as the county commission or a legislative post. Remember: the GOP Central Committee was the same Gang Who Couldn’t Shoot Straight that misfired by running attack ads against Kennedy in the closing days of his campaign. Some credit the R’s for boosting Kennedy to an easy win because CdA voters didn’t like their tactics or attempt to turn a municipal race into a partisan one. Seems the more the R’s stew and scheme, the better local D’s look.

---

---