Compton Still E Governor Race

Kootenai County Commissioner Dick Compton is still contemplating whether to join the governor’s race.

“I haven’t folded my tent,” Compton said Monday. “I still have a lot of tough decisions to make.”

Compton emphasized that he has no quarrel with Kempthorne, although he believes Idaho might be better served if Kempthorne stayed in the U.S. Senate and made use of his increasing seniority.

“I’m not necessarily convinced he understands the issues facing us,” including urbanization of places like Kootenai County, and problems with transportation, taxation and unfunded mandates, Compton said.

Kempthorne won’t announce his gubernatorial platform until early next year. But Compton already knows what the planks would be on his campaign platform, should he decide to run for governor.

State tax reform tops the list. Much of the tax burden for schools and colleges falls on the backs of property owners and it’s time that changed, Compton said. Both Gov. Phil Batt and Idaho House Speaker Mike Simpson have talked about it.

But both only have tinkered with it, he said.

There is talk about increasing the sales tax to obtain more money for schools and colleges. It might be better to end some of the plethora of sales tax exemptions, he said.

Compton, a Bayview native, spent nearly 33 years with IBM before retiring and returning to North Idaho. His management experience and his work as a county commissioner give him strong skills to be governor, he said.

“There are a lot of my close associates that say, ‘You ought to do that,”’ Compton said. “But you have a well-known U.S. senator who wants to run for governor, and that’s tough competition.”

, DataTimes