It’S Official: Chenoweth To Run Again She’Ll Renew Battle With Democrat Williams

Promising this is her last term, verbal swashbuckler and two-term incumbent Helen Chenoweth will formally enter the race for the U.S. House of Representatives today.

The fiery, popular Republican congresswoman’s expected candidacy treats voters to a rerun of the 1996 battle with Boise Democrat Dan Williams. Williams lost by 6,445 of the more than 258,000 votes cast.

Chenoweth has no known primary election challengers. Her formidable war chest caused primary contender Tony Paquin to quit the race a few weeks ago, admitting he couldn’t come close to matching Chenoweth’s cash.

She is advertising herself as a conservative citizen legislator and jabbing Williams for being a “liberal trial lawyer.” Simultaneously, Chenoweth is calling on Williams to run a clean campaign.

Williams has no experience in elected public office. “There is an extremely steep learning curve,” said Chenoweth campaign strategist Graham Paterson.

Born in rural Kansas, Chenoweth moved to Los Angeles while still an infant. The family went on to Oregon when she was 12. But few people identify Chenoweth with anyplace other than Idaho, where she moved as an adult.

She has been a natural resources consultant and campaign organizer for conservative Idaho politicians, such as former congressman and U.S. Sen. Steve Symms. She defeated incumbent Democrat Larry LaRocco in 1993.

During this election season, Chenoweth will be talking about her “grass-roots” campaign. That flavor is reinforced by the fact she raised $257,628 from individuals last year and $94,540 from PACs, Paterson said.

Paterson could not say how many of the individual contributors were from out of state.

Chenoweth also is emphasizing her position as chairwoman of the Forest and Forest Health Subcommittee in the U.S. House. That’s had great benefits for Idaho, including a tour of Western states last summer where Republican and Democratic political leaders received a firsthand look at the area’s natural resource businesses, Paterson said.

If re-elected, Chenoweth will focus on giving more federal money to states and local government for education while putting more decision-making power in the hands of parents, school boards and teachers.

Other issues will include making Social Security and Medicare solvent and better management of natural resources.

Chenoweth always has said she will serve only three terms. That will hold, “barring any unforeseen dramatic changes,” Paterson said.

What would be such a dramatic change? “I can’t think of any,” he said.

When he announced his candidacy in North Idaho last week, Williams said all of Idaho’s political leaders should follow the example of Idaho Gov. Phil Batt and condemn racism.

When asked if Chenoweth will join Batt in that declaration, Paterson said, “Congressman Chenoweth certainly has spoken out against bigotry, prejudice or racism in any form.”

Last year Chenoweth commented that the lack of Hispanics and African Americans in North Idaho was due to the cold climate. She later apologized.

Chenoweth was unavailable Wednesday because of work on the House floor on the highway funding bill, Paterson said. She is holding press conferences in Boise today and Coeur d’Alene on Friday.