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Eye on Boise: Jordan unveils first ad, but it’s online-only for now

In this Jan. 21, 2018 file photo Idaho state Rep. Paulette Jordan speaks during a women's march rally in Las Vegas. The Democrat is running for Idaho governor. (John Locher / AP)

Democratic candidate for governor Paulette Jordan has released her first campaign commercial, but it’s only airing online; it may air on TV “as fundraising allows,” said her campaign communications manager, Dana Ferris.

The commercial shows Randy Priest, owner of Silver Tip Hat Company in Donnelly, wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat, Western-style denim shirt and red bandanna, strolling across a field. Priest, who’s been making hats for more than 40 years and whose shop is on Main Street in Donnelly, has a white beard and long, white hair.

As a guitar strums and Priest walks in the sunshine, he says, “I just figure if God wanted us to vote he’d give us candidates, and there just hasn’t been any candidates. But finally we have a candidate, Paulette Jordan.” Jordan, the Democratic candidate for governor, is then pictured, also in a denim shirt, also walking in a field. “I’m Randy Priest and she’s got my vote, I’m votin’ for her,” Priest says as Jordan smiles. “And I invite you all to join in. Let’s get her in office.” Guitar strumming then finishes out the 30-second ad.

Ferris said the commercial is the first in a series, all featuring ordinary Idahoans endorsing Jordan.

“They’re just really people that wanted to speak, just in their own words — nothing scripted,” she said.

Ferris said the ads are airing on YouTube and social networks; a fundraising appeal from the campaign asks supporters to donate to air the ad more widely.

“I want to broadcast the voices of all forgotten Idahoans,” Jordan said in a statement. “People who need the Medicaid expansion that we’re fighting for. People who have grown jaded and tired of the dishonesty and double-speak in Boise. People who aren’t red, blue or purple, but just want a government that works for them.”

But she doesn’t say any of that in the ad.

There also are no facts to check in the ad; it’s pure opinion. You can see it online here: at https://goo.gl/pfQdKp.

“It’s an attractive ad, well-produced, it seems like,” said Boise State University political scientist Jaclyn Kettler. “It’s just, I was left wanting perhaps a little more.”

“It is a little unusual to not have a little bit more substance, hitting at least one or a couple issues,” Kettler said.

Brad Little, the Republican candidate for governor and Idaho’s current lieutenant governor, hasn’t yet unveiled any TV ads in his campaign this fall but ran numerous ads during his hard-fought GOP primary campaign in the spring.

21 GOP reps oppose initiative

Twenty-one Republican members of the Idaho House, two of whom were defeated in the primary and won’t be returning in January, have come out against Proposition 2 on the November ballot, the Medicaid expansion initiative. “Proposition 2’s Obamacare expansion, with its ballooning costs, will threaten the proper funding of our schools, roads, and every other public service,” said Rep. Bryan Zollinger, R-Idaho Falls. “Obamacare expansion would also make thousands of Idahoans more dependent on the government.”

Those signing on to a news release opposing the measure included Reps. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg, and Karey Hanks, R-St. Anthony, both of whom lost in the May GOP primary. GOP nominee Doug Ricks, who is running unopposed for Nate’s seat, also signed on, as did seven other GOP House candidates. Republican Rod Furniss, who defeated Hanks in the primary and faces Democrat Jerry L. Browne in November, didn’t sign.

In addition to Nate and Hanks, the GOP lawmakers who signed the statement were: Reps. John VanderWoude, R-Nampa; Zollinger; Heather Scott, R-Blanchard; Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay; Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens; Ron Mendive, R-Coeur d’Alene; Priscilla Giddings, R-White Bird; Paul Shepherd, R-Riggins; Dorothy Moon, R-Stanley; Judy Boyle, R-Midvale; Brent Crane, R-Nampa; Joe Palmer, R-Meridian; James Holtzclaw, R-Meridian; Tom Dayley, R-Boise; Christy Zito, R-Hammett; Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls; Greg Chaney, R-Caldwell; Steven Harris, R-Meridian; and Gayann DeMordaunt, R-Eagle.

The House GOP hopefuls who signed on were Tammy Nichols, of Middleton; Julianne Young, of Blackfoot; Chad Christensen, of Ammon; Kevin Brown, of Pocatello; Kevin Andrus, of Lava Hot Springs; Tony Wisniewski, of Post Falls; Ricks; and John Green, of Rathdrum.

Endorsements, endorsements

Janice McGeachin, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, has announced endorsements from two fellow Republicans, Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden and state schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra. McGeachin faces Democrat Kristin Collum, a military veteran and just-retired high-tech executive, in November.

Betsy Z. Russell is the Boise bureau chief and state Capitol reporter for the Idaho Press. Follow her on Twitter at @BetsyZRussell.

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