In a news release (from her campaign), Democratic candidate and educator Kathy Kahn sharply criticized the legislative performance of incumbent Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, her likely opponent in November’s general election. She charged that Rep. Barbieri  “did nothing but raise most peoples’ property taxes,”  adding that he ought to return his paycheck. “Name one bill he passed, name one constructive thing he did in Boise,” the St. Maries High School teacher asked.  She pointed out that in voting to cap the homeowner exemption at $200,000 he had voted for a property tax increase on 90% of the homes in his district.  “Of course the bill excluded his rich, Republican friends who own commercial property,  she added.

“He says he is a Republican but historically the GOP has supported local control, she continued.  “Now, however, “big brother’ in Boise has decided local officials cannot be trusted in such basic items as increasing the minimum wage or human rights matters, such as ‘add the words.’ Nope, such controversial matters are best decided in Boise,” Kahn charged. The popular teacher and native-born Kahn pledges to take Barbieri’s record to the voters of the Second District.  “I’m convinced when they see no accomplishments accompanied by indifference to the poor and a vote to increase their property taxes, they’ll recognize that I’m the one who will truly be working in their interests,” Kahn concluded.