Pat Whalen, president of the Boys and Girls Club of Kootenai County, called Huckleberries moments ago to announce that he will run as a Republican for the Senate District 3 seat now held by Bob Nonini. Whalen will make an official announcement at 4:30 p.m. today at Post Falls City Hall. The Post Falls resident is also president of the Resource Computing software firm of Coeur d'Alene. His wife, Lora, is director of the Panhandle Health District.

DFO: Huckleberries hears ... that Whalen has the support of such Post Falls heavy hitters as Ron Nilson and Frank Henderson. Is this the beginning of the end of the political career of state Sen. Bob Nonini?