Election ‘98

Not in my back yard, Part I

This week’s solar eclipse seems to have sent weird waves everywhere. The Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce says it isn’t yet taking a position on the EPA’s plan to look at mining pollution in the entire Coeur d’Alene Basin. This is the same chamber that sent a representative to Sandpoint a few weeks ago to lobby in favor of a mine that could muck up Lake Pend Oreille - that gem in Sandpoint’s back yard.

Not in my back yard, Part II

Speaking of the Coeur d’Alene Chamber and the Sandpoint mine controversy, it strikes us as strange that as-yet unannounced Legislature candidate Ben Wolfinger would participate in less-than-public disclosure about anything. Wolfinger is the well-respected public info guy at the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department and also teaches other cops to play it straight with the press. But when he put on his Chamber Legislative Committee Chairman’s hat recently, Wolfinger refused to allow discussion about a chamber representative testifying in favor of that mine upstream from Sandpoint. That chamber representative, Lori Barnes, also is on the payroll of the company proposing the mine. Instead of explaining the apparent conflict of interest, Wolfinger invoked the cloak of “potential litigation.” Chamber President Judy Drake, another public official, apparently told Wolfinger to take that tack. Sounds likes mum’s the word from these “public officials” now that election season is well underway.

Whoops!

The last edition of this political missive reported one of the few remaining Democrats in North Idaho, Mike Kennedy, gave a smidgen of money to Tony Paquin’s campaign. Paquin, a Republican who is running against Helen Chenoweth for the 1st District Congressional seat, gave it back “out of respect for Mike’s high-profile” role as a Democrat. Sorry, Mike.

A candidate of their own

Meanwhile, back in the Kootenai County Courthouse, election fever may be stirring quiet angst in the assessors’ office. Coffee shop experts say Assessor Marv Vandenberg may run again, with the support of Greg Cade. Another former long-time employee at the number cruncher’s digs, Ray Lee, is running with the support of chief deputy assessor Mike McDowell. We hear Cade and McDowell each back the man they think will keep them employed. Good luck, men.

Picking your vices

On Valentine’s Day, six sweet Idaho legislators conducted a public hearing in Post Falls on proposed legislation that would allow public notification when a convicted sex offender moves into the neighborhood. Their mantra? Protecting kids, of course. Citizen activist Buell Hollister publicly took them to task, alleging hypocrisy. Some of those same legislators took money from the tobacco industry, Hollister alleged. Newspaper records affirm that North Idaho politicians Hilde Kellogg, Jack Riggs and Clyde Boatright reported campaign donations from the cigarette makers. Sounds like things are cozy with Joe Camel.

, DataTimes MEMO: Campaign ‘98 is published during the campaign season and is compiled by Ken Olsen from staff reports. To submit information on a political event or to submit a question for a candidate, write us to 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