State Representative, Position A, Republican Primary
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Vito Barbieri (R) | 1,760 | 66.74% |
| Fritz Wiedenhoff (R) | 877 | 33.26% |
* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.
The Candidates
Vito Barbieri
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 72
- City:
- Dalton Gardens
- Occupation:
- lawyer; small business owner
Education: Graduated from Westchester High School, Los Angeles, Calif., in 1969. Holds an associates degree from El Camino Junior College, and bachelor’s and law degrees from Western State University in Fullerton, Calif.
Political background: Incumbent, elected to the Idaho House in 2010, 2012 and 2014; seeking re-election to a fourth term.
Work experience: Practiced law in California for 20 years. Since moving to Idaho in 2004, has operated several small businessess, including a catering business and the “Vap-It” electronic cigarette store in Post Falls.
Family: Married. Has three grown children.
Fritz Wiedenhoff
- Party:
- Republican
- City:
- Rathdrum, Idaho
- Occupation:
- firefighter
A firefighter from Garwood, Wiedenhoff previously unsuccessfully challenged 2nd District Rep. Vito Barbieri in the GOP primary in 2014. He is a captain with the Northern Lakes Fire District and a father of three. Wiedenhoff also is a part-time operation specialist and mechanic for the Coeur d'Alene Airport. He holds an associate's of applied science degree in diesel mechanics. He's been critical of incumbent Rep. Barbieri for voting against education.
Complete Coverage
Democrat challenges Rep. Barbieri in heavily GOP North Idaho district
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…
Eye on Boise: Democrat challenges Rep. Barbieri in heavily GOP North Idaho district
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.
Republican Idaho lawmaker bloc often votes ‘no’ on appropriations
Every year a bloc of lawmakers in the Idaho Legislature votes against billions of dollars in spending for routine functions of state government, and this year was no exception.
Idaho House overwhelmingly OKs school budget, though Barbieri worries taxpayers can’t afford it
A public school budget that makes way for a 7.4 percent funding increase passed the Idaho House overwhelmingly on Monday, though one North Idaho lawmaker voted against all seven pieces of the budget.
Huckleberries: At least she knows female anatomy
Democrat Kathy (Kraack) Kahn says she’s has a distinct advantage over Republican incumbent Vito Barbieri: She knows how a female’s anatomy works. During the 2015 session, Barbieri, a Republican legislator from Dalton Gardens, made international headlines during an abortion discussion. Barbieri asked a female physician if a pill with a camera could be used in gynecological exams. Kahn said she knows the answer to that question without even Googling it.
Eye on Boise: Idaho homeowner’s exemption could lose inflation index
Eye on Boise column for Sunday