Teen’s Legislative Candidacy On, Then Off After Impressing Demo Crowd, Run For Office Torpedoed By State Law

Joshua Buehner’s campaign for District 2 state representative might be the shortest in history.

At noon Friday, before a roomful of Kootenai County Democrats, the well-dressed 18-year-old declared his intention to run against Republican Wayne Meyer.

By late afternoon, election officials were questioning whether he could.

According to Idaho Code, candidates for state representative have to be at least 21 years old.

Buehner, an honor student at Lakeland High School, said elections officials at the Secretary of State’s office told him he was old enough to run.

“All I can say is, in a few years we’d better watch out,” said County Clerk Dan English, after he looked up the law.

English and many fellow Democrats were impressed with Buehner’s enthusiasm and knowledge of the issues when he confidently addressed their luncheon crowd at the Ironhorse Restaurant.

“My generation is the generation of the future,” Buehner said. “I have an obligation to step forward and take a part in that future.”

Buehner had been preparing to run for about a year, he said, studying the issues and closely following the activities of the Legislature.

He wasn’t the only one to be caught off-guard by the news that he’s too young for the job. The Democrats applauded and encouraged him as he spoke.

“I heard someone who was at the luncheon saying he did really well, and it never even dawned on me,” said county elections coordinator Deedie Beard.

The state has other age requirements, too. Attorneys general have to be at least 30 years old. A state treasurer has to be 25. County commissioners and sheriffs have to be 21.

Also announcing his candidacy at the Democrats’ luncheon was Larry Kenck, who’s running against Clyde Boatright for the District 2 Senate seat.

Kenck, 47, is a fourth-generation North Idahoan running for public office for the first time.

He makes his living as the Eastern Washington and North Idaho business representative for the Teamsters Union, Local 582. He’s been with the Teamsters for 12 years.

When asked what the big difference is between him and Boatright, Kenck responded, “Who we represent.”

Kenck said he represents the working class and middle class, and characterized Boatright as representing business interests.

The citizens of North Idaho, he said, “have watched helplessly as their incomes have dwindled. … They feel disenfranchised from the southern half of the state. They believe the people they’ve sent to the Legislature to represent them have forgotten them.”

Boatright said he plans to formally announce next week.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo