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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Rep. Bateman won’t seek re-election; Stevenson files for Rudolph’s seat…

Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, announced today that he won’t seek re-election to a 9th term in the House. “I would surely have run, but there are some family issues,” Bateman said. “I started 40 years ago.”

He served five House terms from 1977 to 1986; then returned this time for three terms. Among those who started in the House with him in 1977, Bateman said, he’s the only one still serving, and 53 of the 70 have died. “I’m 75 years old,” he said, adding that he was thrilled to have a second opportunity to serve.

“I’ll be remembered for two things,” Bateman said with a smile: His crusade to bring back the teaching of cursive handwriting in Idaho schools; and his legislation to establish “Idaho Day,” which is now marked each year on March 4 to celebrate Idaho’s culture and history. An Idaho history enthusiast, Bateman noted that he just introduced legislation this morning seeking to get some Idaho questions included in a civics test that state lawmakers already required the state’s schoolchildren to pass before they graduate from high school.

Today is the opening day of the 10-day filing period for candidates running in the May 17 primary election for state and local offices. So far, a number of legislative incumbents have filed to run again, as has former Rep. Thyra Stevenson, R-Lewiston, who filed to run for the seat that’s being vacated by Rep. Dan Rudolph, D-Lewiston – who beat Stevenson in 2014. You can see the list here; it’s being updated periodically.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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