Campaign ‘98

Election entertainment

Helen Chenoweth tapped former football great Steve Largent to come help her raise money from the greens of the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course Saturday night. And even though Chenoweth is entertaining enough on her own, she’ll draw on the talents of the Oak Ridge Boys for a dual fund-raiser with southern Idaho Congressional wannabe Mike Simpson Aug. 22. It’s happening in the arena below potato king J.R. Simplot’s Boise home. Chenoweth campaigners say U.S. Sen. Larry Craig landed the gig for Chenoweth and Smith. He knows the Oakie Boys from his warbling with the Singing Senators. With all of this fun, is anybody still clueless as to why business inside the beltway ain’t getting done?

Revolving door, door, door

Meanwhile back in Boise, Idaho Gov. Phil Batt appointed yet another new press secretary. The incumbent, Lindsay Nothern, left apparently to work on Mike Simpson’s Congressional campaign. That leaves Julie Robinson to fill the shoes of Amy Kleiner, Frank Lockwood, Nothern and company. Being the lame duck employer can’t be much fun, governor. P.S. Lindsay - what happens when this three-month gig is up?

Something broke, something blue …

Expect medical care and senseless regulations to become campaign topics soon. Poor old Bob Huntley, who is making the Democratic effort at becoming the next governor, was last seen on crutches, thanks to back surgery. His Republican opponent, U.S. Sen. Dirk Kempthorne, complained that his only day off between now and Nov. 3 is going to be dedicated to a root canal. (Hopefully you are getting that from the dentist and not the voters, eh Dirk?) Boise attorney Bill Mauk, meanwhile, was forced to take his school bus back to the body shop and repaint his “Mauk for Senator” machine something besides school bus yellow … all because of a state law. The new color? Blue. Can’t argue with blue as the color of choice for a vehicle for the Democratic Party. If Mauk becomes senator, we’ll look for him to drive this to work.

Real endorsements

Finally, this bit of surprising news from the Idaho Association of Realtors. The group is out now with its list of endorsements for Idaho’s major offices. But there’s a Democrat in the bunch - and it’s none other than State Controller J.D. Williams. Of course, as long as Williams has been in office in this Republican domain, one can hardly tell the difference.

Calendar of events

There will be a forum for legislative candidates Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Washington Water Power Building, 1735 N. 15th, in Coeur d’Alene. The forum, open to the public, will include candidates for Idaho legislative districts 2, 3 and 4. U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth, R-Idaho, and Democratic challenger Dan Williams also have been invited to attend. The forum is sponsored by United Vision for Idaho, Idaho Women’s Network, North Idaho Central Labor Council and the Idaho Conservation League.