Campaign ‘98

Prophetic posting?

One of the first places in the Lake City to sport a Ron Rankin-for-County Commissioner campaign sign?

None other than Coeur d’Alene Monument, that Government Way operation that normally dispenses headstones. No doubt Rankin opponents hope this political posting is a sign that the oft-rankling commissioner will be buried at the polls. Our forecasters predict Rankin will resurrect a victory.

A crowd for commission

Meanwhile, back at election central, James Sinsley appears to have applied to the voters for County Commissioner Ron Rankin’s seat. Sinsley works in the Kootenai County Assessor’s Office, suggesting there is more discontent over the commissioners’ forgiving ways with property assessments at Cougar Gulch.

At least the race is becoming a contest.

Finally a primary

If you like standing in line, why not challenge Jeff Alltus? Everyone else is. The newest addition to the ballot: Jay Patrick Newcomb. We’re expecting Kootenai County Sheriff’s Capt. Ben Wolfinger to finally formally announce that he too wants the Republican representative’s chair. Who knows, maybe the Democrats can even find a candidate. Odds are better at the lottery.

A 12-step program for political addictions

As if the last election weren’t enough, Boise lawyer Dan Williams came to Coeur d’Alene this week to announce that he again wants to subject himself to a Congressional contest in the 1st District of Idaho. Though clearly an accident, the podium from which Williams announced his candidacy bore the double A of Alcoholics Anonymous. And the group’s 12-step program was preserved under plexiglass on the speaker’s shelf of the podium. No doubt Williams isn’t a member of AA, but it raises the question of whether there’s a 12-step program to help people get out of politics.

Do unto others

With characteristic boldness, Rep. Helen Chenoweth declared that Williams should “stop subjecting the people of Idaho to negative, personal-attack ads financed by East Coast union bosses and national liberal groups.” That came a breath after Chenoweth’s press release trashed Williams as a “liberal trial lawyer” guilty of other sins. Of course, this “you be nice, I’ll be nasty” exchange said nothing of the tobacco money, donations from conservative Midwest groups, or the $376,000 in PAC money Chenoweth received.

The shortest month in history …

will probably be Idaho Immunization Month, being declared by Idaho Gov. Phil Batt next week. Considering this is the whooping cough capital of the nation, because so many parents eschew the shots, it’s unlikely enthusiasm will last the entire 30 days. But let’s hope Batt gives child immunizations an over-the-top boost.

Campaign calendar

April 3 is the last day to file for office in Idaho.

, DataTimes MEMO: Campaign ‘98 is published during the campaign season and is compiled by staff writer Ken Olsen from staff reports. To submit information on a political event or to submit a question for a candidate, write us c/o The Idaho Spokesman-Review, 608 Northwest Blvd, Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814, or send e-mail to keno@spokesman.com.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Ken Olsen from staff reports