Idaho State Sen. Shawn Keough isn't afraid to take an unpopular stand. During the 2001 Legislature, the Sandpoint Republican brought the Senate to a halt by using a procedural move to protest unilateral leadership actions in a lawsuit over inadequate school buildings. ... However, she has misfired during her re-election campaign by deciding not to fill out candidate questionnaires from special-interest groups. Her position is somewhat understandable. Candidates for higher office are bombarded with surveys seemingly from every organization that has a lobbyist. It takes time to fill them out. Some have leading questions. Candidates shouldn't feel obligated to fill out all questionnaires; they don't have time. But they owe their constituents a good-faith effort to fill out ones from local groups or groups with local members – and Project Vote Smart.

For the rest of the comment about candidate questionnaires, click here.

DFO: Vote Smart is a valuable resource for constituents. North Idaho incumbents/candidates who haven't filled out the form, besides Shawn, are: (state Senate) Joyce Broadsword, Mike Jorgenson, Steve Johnson; (state House) George Eskridge, Mary Lou Shepherd, Phil Hart and Dick Harwood. Yes, most are Republicans.

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