Election ‘98

Don’t tell anyone yet …

But Mike Stine is telling folks he’s going to run for Kootenai County Commissioner.

This could be the ultimate act of getting involved to change the system.

Stine is suing commissioners for allowing a developer to build a commercial storage facility near his Rathdrum-area home. His candidacy, we understand, is certain but not yet ready for prime time. Election success or not, we hear folks around the county government building know him well.

Ohio conspiracy?

What a week for Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash. First, the Federal Elections Commission said it’s OK for Republican Rep. John Boehner to use campaign funds to sue McDermott. Boehner wants to sue McDermott for leaking a tape of a cellular telephone conversation between Newt Gingrich and Boehner - about Newt’s alleged ethical problems. Then 22-year-old Jason T. McDermott, no relation, appears in the news in Ohio last week. Seems police believe Jason used the congressman’s name to rent a limo, write bad checks and bid for a Hawaiian vacation at a charity auction. Suppose Rep. McDermott could blame the tape on this alleged scammer, too?

Restraining Big Brother?

Last week, U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth cut short Forest Service chief Mike Dombeck’s visit to the West with a federal subpoena to a special hearing. Seems the Forest Service closed a rod-and-gun club in Arizona. The agency deemed the club’s shooting range dangerous because it was too close to a populated area. Suppose the U.S. Marshal’s Service used a black helicopter to deliver that subpoena?

Whiplash

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Larry Craig was demanding Forest Service officials come back out West to hold hearings on the agency’s plans not to punch logging roads into roadless areas for the next 18 months. “This is an initiative motivated more than anything by the Clinton administration’s desire to appease a single interest group,” Craig said. And how many interest groups are served by forcing the Forest Service not to build those logging roads?

Keeping his hand in …

So Idaho Democratic operative Mike Kennedy squelched rumors he is running for governor, and squelched rumors he is working on Republican Tony Paquin’s campaign for Chenoweth’s congressional seat. But Federal Election Commission records show Kennedy is still keeping his hand in mixed politics. Paquin’s report says Kennedy donated to his campaign. The outcome of the election doesn’t pivot on the donation, however. The dollar amount was less than $200 - low enough that Paquin didn’t have to say exactly how much Kennedy gave.

Quote of the Week

“We are the party of the working poor, of the poor, of minorities, of pro-choice, of the environment, and the party serious about protecting Social Security.” That from Jerry Shriner, upon his selection as chairman of the Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee. But does he know that at least one Republican says that’s not the cross-section of the typical North Idahoan?

, DataTimes MEMO: Campaign ‘98 is published during the campaign season and compiled by Ken Olsen from staff reports. To submit information on a political event or submit a question for a candidate, write us c/o The Idaho Spokesman Review, 608 Northwest Boulevard, Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene ID 83814, or e-mail us at keno@spokesman.com.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Ken Olsen from staff reports