It’s the political season, and candidates are announcing – including Rep. George Sayler, D-Coeur d’Alene, who announced he’ll run for another term. Today on the steps of the Capitol, Sayler was among a crowd of Democrats at the announcement of Jackie Groves Twilegar, a new candidate for state controller. Twilegar, who has an MBA in finance and economics from Northwestern University and has worked in finance for big corporations, banks and her own small business, is backed by former longtime controller J.D. Williams, who signed on as her campaign treasurer.

“I thought she was very articulate, sounds well-qualified, deeply rooted in Idaho values,” Sayler said after listening to the Boise woman’s announcement. Twilegar is married to Ron Twilegar, a Democrat who served in the state House and Senate in the 1970s and ‘80s and served on the Boise City Council when Gov. Dirk Kempthorne was that city’s mayor.

Already in the controller’s race are Republicans Donna Jones, a former legislator from Payette and director of the Idaho Real Estate Commission; and Royce Chigbrow, a Boise CPA who has served as campaign treasurer for high-profile Republican candidates.

Current state Controller Keith Johnson, a Republican, is giving up the post after one term to run for the 1st District congressional seat. Before he took office, the controller’s office had been held by Democrats since 1959.

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