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GOP hanging on in N. Idaho

Jim Hammond of Post Falls, center/facing, hugs friend Skip Hissong as early returns show him comfortably leading his opponent for the state legislature Tuesday night at Red Lion Templin's Hotel. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
By Erica Curless ericac@spokesman.com(509) 459-5439
Jim Hammond of Post Falls, center/facing, hugs friend Skip Hissong as early returns show him comfortably leading his opponent for the state legislature Tuesday night at Red Lion Templin's Hotel. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)

Republicans in North Idaho were maintaining their grip on seats in the Idaho Legislature, but the races were close in Coeur d’Alene, where just a few votes separated some candidates.

In Coeur d’Alene, Democrat Rep. George Sayler, the assistant minority leader, fought off a challenge from political newcomer and Republican Sharon Culbreth with 58 percent of the vote in early returns.

In the Senate race, Democrat Steven Foxx, 28, was a couple hundred votes behind longtime Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene. Goedde had 49 percent of the vote in early returns while Foxx had 46 percent.

“We’re doing great,” Foxx said. “We’re neck and neck. I think voters are really discontent with what’s going on.”

Goedde said he was likely losing votes to the Constitution Party, which was endorsed by the “far Christian right.” But he remained hopeful he’d pull it off.

Constitution Party candidate Ray Writz had 2 percent in early returns, as did independent Jeremy Boggess.

In the House, Rep. Marge Chadderdon, R-Coeur d’Alene, was winning re-election with 52 percent of the vote. Democrat challenger and former Rep. Bonnie Douglas, received 48 percent.

Democratic candidates across Idaho led Republican rivals in some races for the Legislature, though the GOP looked to hold its big advantage in both the House and the Senate, according to very early returns.

Democrats now trail 28-7 in the Senate and 57-13 in the House.

In other North Idaho legislative races:

District 5

Republican Jim Hammond of Post Falls will likely replace retiring Sen. Dick Compton, R-Coeur d’Alene, after beating out Democrat challenger Chuck Thomas. Hammond, a former mayor and recently retired Post Falls city administrator, had 64 percent of the vote in early returns. Thomas, a retired Coeur d’Alene firefighter and political newcomer, had 35 percent.

In the House, Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Post Falls, won re-election as did Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls.

Nonini, who owns an insurance and finance company, fought off Democrat challenger David Larsen for the second time. Nonini got 62 percent of the vote in early returns while Larsen, a retired high school math teacher, had 38 percent.Henderson also beat out perennial Democrat challenger Lyndon Harriman, a Canfield Middle School teacher. Henderson, a former Kootenai County commissioner and Post Falls mayor, had 65 percent of the vote in early returns while Harriman received 35 percent.

District 1

Republican Rep. Eric Anderson of Priest River will likely return for a second term as the District 1 House seat B representative after squeaking by his high-spending opponent, Democrat oceanographer Steve Elgar, of Sandpoint. Elgar garnered 48 percent of the vote compared with Anderson’s 52 percent. The Anderson-Elgar race, a repeat from 2004, was the highest-grossing legislative race in North Idaho, with Elgar raking in $54,697 and Anderson $46,617.

Also in District 1, Rep. George Eskridge was re-elected for a fourth term, fending off a challenge from Democrat Bob Wynhausen. Eskridge, who retired from the Bonneville Power Adminstration , got 64 percent of the vote while Wynhausen, a retired accountant, received 36 percent.

In the Senate, Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, will return for a sixth term, making her tied with Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden, for the most senior member of the North Idaho legislative delegation. Keough received 69 percent of the vote while her Democratic opponent, retired journalist Jim Ramsey, got 31 percent.

District 2

In Shoshone County and lower Bonner County, Republicans Sen. Joyce Broadsword, of Sagle, and Rep. Dick Harwood, of St. Maries, both easily won re-election.

Broadsword, who owns a log home manufacturing company, received 64 percent of the vote to Democrat Steve Johnson’s 36 percent. Johnson, a schoolteacher, ran for the House four years ago and the Senate six years ago.

This will be Broadsword’s second term in the Legislature. She served as vice chairwoman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and is positioned to become chairwoman now that Compton, who served as chairman, has retired.

Harwood beat Democrat Richard Taniguchi, a retired mechanic and welder . Early returns showed Harwood with 62 percent of the vote and Taniguchi with 38 percent.

Harwood, a retired Potlatch Corp. employee and small-business owner, has been in the Legislature since 2000.