Long Shot For Senate Talks Roads Lambert Campaigns On A Shoestring Against Crapo In Gop Primary

It’ll cost him $12 a month for four years or so, but Matt Lambert thinks it’s worth it.

He’s running for the U.S. Senate, even though he had to charge his $500 filing fee on a credit card.

He has little chance against U.S. Rep. Mike Crapo in the Republican primary - a Harvard-educated lawyer, former leader of the state senate and one of Idaho’s most popular politicians - but Lambert feels like he’s already won.

Too many candidates go unopposed, the unemployed window washer from Murray, Idaho, said. “They should have a choice, and I’m not a bad choice, at least in my eyes.”

The winner of the Republican primary will face Boise attorney and former state Democratic Party chairman Bill Mauk in November.

Lambert has run for office in each of the past four elections, and although he never won, he feels like he brought attention to important issues - better funding for schools, and shifting food stamps to an electronic debit card. Those things happened.

“Now, whether it’s coincidence, well, it’s a good coincidence, you know,” Lambert said.

In his long-shot bid against Crapo, Lambert said he’s making fixing roads a top priority. He’d like to get all roads repaired within six years, and maybe enlist the military in winter to help spread sand and clear snow.

“That goes for those roads over there in Spokane, too, where there’s all those ruts,” Lambert said. “Our infrastructure in America leaves much to be desired. Our roads could be a lot safer.”

Crapo’s priority is to continue the push to bring power back from the federal government to the states. He wants to reduce taxes, overhaul the tax code, keep the budget balanced and start paying off the national debt.

“There are a number of things we need to focus on very aggressively in the near future,” Crapo said. “One is preserving and strengthening the Social Security and Medicare systems so that they do not fail.

The second is making sure we have the best educational system possible in the world, to make the commitment and achieve the reforms necessary to accomplish that.

“Third is to fight for a drug-free America, because the impact of illicit drugs is such a significant impact … robbing from our young people their shot at the American dream.”

Crapo also is pledging that if incumbent Sen. Dirk Kempthorne’s legislation reforming the Endangered Species Act doesn’t pass this year, he’ll push for it after Kempthorne has left the Senate.

Kempthorne is giving up his seat to run for governor.

Unlike Kempthorne, Crapo agreed to debate his little-known primary opponent live on statewide television, as part of a series of election debates on Idaho Public Television sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Idaho Press Club.

“We’re both on the ballot. People should have the opportunity to hear what we have to say,” Crapo said.

But Lambert said he couldn’t raise the money to get to Boise for the debate. “I just didn’t have the extra $50 in gas,” he said.

Lambert could have avoided the hefty $500 filing fee by collecting 1,000 signatures. “It was easier to come up with $500,” he said.

A serious back injury in 1995 forced Lambert to close his window-washing business. He’s still looking for a new line of work.

Mary Atkinson said Lambert washed the windows at her second-floor Hayden Lake condominium for about two years, inside and out. “He was terrific and very friendly, and he did fantastic work,” she said. “He’s a very nice person. … I wish him luck.”

Crapo has been consistently popular in his congressional district, overwhelmingly winning each election. A 1996 Idaho Spokesman-Review poll found 99 percent of those in the 2nd Congressional District recognized his name, and only 15 percent had an unfavorable opinion of him.

JOB DESCRIPTION A U.S. senator from Idaho is charged with writing, debating and deciding on federal laws, investigating matters of public concern, and monitoring federal agencies and programs. A senator also participates in declaring war, approving treaties, regulating interstate and foreign commerce, raising or lowering federal taxes, minting and appropriating money, and approving top agency and judicial appointments. Terms run six years. Annual pay: $136,700 Minimum qualifications: At least 30 years old, U.S. citizen for at least nine years, Idaho resident.