Batt’s Decision Even Surprised Staffers Governor Kept Confidants, Friends In Dark Until Last Minute

If Gov. Phil Batt has proven anything it’s that he’s a master at keeping a secret.

He made the biggest political announcement the state has seen in years during the past week. And up to 24 hours before, few politicians, reporters or even Batt supporters had any idea what it would be.

Not until Tuesday, the day before Batt announced that he would forgo almost certain re-election to another term, did anything more than rumors begin circulating that the governor would not run again.

Up until the final hours, his staffers and even close friends had to admit they were in the dark. As many people were predicting he would run as those who felt he would not.

“I would have lost my shirt on this one,” said Brad Hoaglun, communication director for the Idaho Senate.

Batt won’t say exactly when he made up his mind not to run again. He had been thinking about it ever since he took office in 1995. The closest he came to revealing his intentions was when he told key supporters on Sept. 12 not to revive his campaign organization.

It was such a surprise that when Batt told a roomful of supporters, staffers and reporters on Wednesday that he wasn’t running, there was an audible gasp. There also were a lot of long faces and even a few tears.

Members of his administration have a lot to lose. What Batt called “the finest group of people ever assembled to run state government” has only 15 more months of guaranteed employment. The governor said he would encourage his successor - if he or she is a Republican - to retain most of them.

Batt, who was state GOP chairman before running for governor, said he is confident the next governor will be from his party because it has become so strong - controlling 85 percent of the Legislature, the entire congressional delegation and all but one statewide elected office.

Jeff Malmen, Batt’s chief of staff, helped keep the secret about the governor’s decision against seeking re-election to the very end. As eager reporters were gathering at Batt’s office before the announcement, Malmen was still passing out Batt campaign stickers to throw them off the track.

Before the governor opted out of next year’s election, Democrats might have been tempted to put only minimal effort and money into a campaign against Batt. Resources might have gone to races they would have more chance of winning.

One scenario: If Democrats could capture attorney general and state schools superintendent, and Democratic Controller J.D. Williams keeps his job, that could give the party control of the state Land Board.

The party’s top strategist, executive director Karen White, said, “You have to make sure you don’t spread your eggs around too much because then you don’t wind up winning anything.”

But White said Democrats can’t pass up a chance at the governor’s office, a position they held for 24 years before Batt. It’s just too important.

U.S. Sen. Dirk Kempthorne is considered a possibility for the Republican gubernatorial nomination next year, even if it means giving up almost certain re-election to the Senate.

Many political observers feel that if Kempthorne runs, he would handily win the governor’s chair. But they should remember three years ago.

The moment Democratic Attorney General Larry EchoHawk announced for governor in 1994, he became a huge favorite and some were conceding him the election.

Phil Batt was not among them. Despite polls showing him trailing badly, Batt campaigned doggedly, gained ground steadily and won going away.

EchoHawk might be back in the state next month, but it won’t be for a political speech. He’s a law professor at Brigham Young University and reportedly is near agreement to come to Boise for an anti-gambling speech.

Idaho AFL-CIO President Dave Whaley was on his way to a big labor convention in Pittsburgh during the weekend with a question for national organizers: How much effort will they put into defeating Republican U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth next year?

Labor leaders targeted her for defeat last election, and national unions pumped huge amounts of money into Idaho trying to elect Democratic challenger Dan Williams. But Chenoweth won, even though it was by less than 7,000 votes out of more than 260,000 cast.

Whaley said Idaho union members will continue to do their best to defeat Chenoweth, but he doesn’t know yet what help they can expect from the national level.

“I’m hoping that will be a topic of discussion,” he said.