Former Idaho Gov. Phil Batt has endorsed Phil McGrane in the four-way GOP primary for Idaho Secretary of State – a notable endorsement not just because Batt is a respected former governor of the state, but also because he’s a former highly successful chairman of the Idaho Republican Party. Asked how often he’s made an endorsement in the primary, Batt said, “Oh, not very often, I don’t think.”

In this case, though, he said, “One candidate has demonstrated the ability as well as the character and integrity necessary to fulfill the obligations of this office and that is Phil McGrane.” Batt, shown here in a 2013 photo, said, “Over the years, I’ve had the utmost respect and confidence in the Secretary of State’s office being led by Pete Cenarrusa and Ben Ysursa to be run with sound judgment, common sense and fiscal responsibility. Phil McGrane is the right Republican to continue this tradition. I encourage others to join Ben and me in voting for Phil McGrane for Secretary of State.”

Ysursa endorsed McGrane for the post he’s retiring from this year on Tuesday.

There are four candidates vying in the GOP primary; in addition to McGrane, they include former House Speaker Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale; former Sen. Evan Frasure, R-Pocatello; and former Sen. Mitch Toryanski, R-Boise. The victor will face Democratic Rep. Holli Woodings of Boise in November; she’s unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Batt said the Secretary of State’s office is unique. “I think a person has to be studiously objective in that office,” he said. “Certainly there’s no room for any partisan maneuvering at all, favoritism. It’s an objective-type position. I think it’s extremely important, because there’s always people trying to maneuver election possibilities. I think it’s necessary to have an objective person in that office.”

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