Campaign ‘96

Giving your all

Democrat Cecil Kelly, who is running for the Idaho House of Representatives against Jeff Alltus, isn’t letting any good turn go unnoticed. Last week, for example, he made sure we knew he had just donated his eighth gallon of blood. Better store it up, Cecil. The voters will want more than eight gallons if you make many mistakes.

Ham hocks and hirings

The Post Falls City Council was so confident it would have no problem making Mayor Jim Hammond the next city administrator that it scheduled a barbecue a half-hour after the start of its special meeting on Hammond’s hiring. Hammond, of course, resigned as mayor, just as quickly became administrator, and passed the mayor’s gavel to Gus Johnson. Then it was off to Templin’s Resort for a little southern hospitality. They made their deadline. Yum.

Stealth fighter

Meanwhile, back in lobbying central - Washington, D.C., or inside the beltway to political hacks - Idaho’s former U.S. Sen. Steve Symms was sending a letter to Dan Williams demanding he answer questions from “The Seniors Coalition.” Williams, a Democrat and a Boise attorney, is challenging incumbent Republican Helen Chenoweth for the 1st District Congressional seat. Symms, who retired from the senatorial life to lobby his former colleagues, warned Williams that his answers would be used to rate the candidate for a voter’s guide. As if Symms, a Republican, is going to give a Democratic upstart an A+++ rating?

Stealth fighter II, the radical side

Of course, it’s not embarrassing enough that Symms is fronting as a non-partisan representative for senior citizens. Williams’ team of campaign experts tried to make this into a radical issue. “I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know about a right-wing seniors group that former Idaho Sen. Steve Symms is lobbying for,” wrote Ted Sullivan, a Williams staffer. “This is an ultra-conservative group that advocates the elimination of most, if not all, taxes on seniors.” Sounds like most folks we know.

Hello, is this the What’s-his-name campaign?

Some people can’t find their way through Boise, some can’t find Tierra del Fuego on a map. But staff for Chenoweth may have a more immediate handicap - and more embarrassing. When one of our reporters called Chenoweth’s campaign to ask about a future political debate, her receptionist asked, “and who would she be debating?” In the old country, it’s called an opponent. And, for the record, it’s Dan Williams.

Web site of the week

Those who bemoan the lack of political interest among today’s youth should check out Patrick Ruffini’s home page.

The 17-year-old Greenwich, Conn., teen offers up a full array of political opinions on everything and everyone, from Pat Buchanan to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Sure, he leans a little to the conservative side, and is a strong partisan for Bob Dole and Newt Gingrich.

But his section of “pretty cool links I have found on the Web” is impressive and bi-partisan … Find Patrick at http:/entaxis.com/ (tilde)ruffini/.

Political calendar

Gov. Phil Batt is in Coeur d’Alene Friday to speak to members of the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveying at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: How they voted

MEMO: Campaign ‘96 is published regularly during the campaign season and is compiled from staff reports. To submit information on a political event or a question you want the candidates to answer, write us c/o The Idaho Spokesman-Review, 608 Northwest Blvd., Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814. Or call Cityline at (208) 765-8811 on a Touch-Tone phone, then press 9893 to leave a message, your name and phone number.