No Democrat has represented North Idaho’s legislative District 2 since 1994, but newly retired St. Maries teacher Kathy Kahn thinks she’s got a shot, in her challenge to third-term Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens. First off, she and her campaign manager, former state Sen. Mike Blackbird, D-Post Falls, point to the numbers. Sure, Barbieri defeated his Democratic challenger in the past two elections – Cheryl Stransky, also a retired teacher – by big margins, collecting nearly two-thirds of the vote. But Barbieri collected just 4,569 more votes than Stransky in 2014. Kahn, who taught English at St. Maries High School for 28 years before retiring this spring, estimates she has 3,000 former students who live in the district. Plus, she’s a native of the area with deep and broad family ties: “I think I have 2,500 first cousins,” she joked/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise. More here.

Question: Kahn would have a good shot at winning in Coeur d'Alene's District 4. But District 2 -- Bonner County south? That's a tall, tall order. Thoughts?

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