Demos Go After Otter’S Job

Thu., May 21, 1998

By Betsy Z. Russell betsyr@spokesman.com (208) 336-2854

Lieutenant governor

Sue Reents, a three-term Democratic state senator from Boise, says Idaho’s had enough of one-party rule.

“I believe in a two-party system of government and am alarmed that our state government is so clearly in lockstep with far right interests,” Reents said.

That’s why she’s running for lieutenant governor. But before she can challenge Republican Lt. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, Reents will have to defeat Cheri Erwin of Twin Falls in the Democratic primary.

Erwin, a political newcomer, is an assistant manager at a Cirle K store who is running as a working person’s candidate. She and Twin Falls laborer Donald McMurrian, who is running for governor, make up a ticket with good-paying jobs as a top issue and strong support for restrictions on abortion.

Reents is campaigning with Robert Huntley, a candidate for governor and former Idaho Supreme Court justice. He is pushing for rebuilding Idaho’s schools, restoring salmon runs by breaching four lower Snake River dams and reducing the sales tax.

Lieutenant governor is a part-time job in Idaho. On Jan. 1, the pay will be $24,500.

The lieutenant governor acts as the presiding officer of the state senate, serves as acting governor when the governor is gone, and is next in line if the governor leaves office mid-term.

Otter has held the post since 1987. He is unopposed in the primary.

Reents, who has worked as a stockbroker, headed the Junior League of Boise, developed retail recruitment plans for downtown Boise and served on the Idaho Judicial Council, said children’s issues are foremost for her. If elected, she hopes to “remind every other special interest that kids come first.”

In the 1970s and early 1980s, she organized the statewide “Concern for Children Coalition” and directed its legislative lobbying efforts.

Reents, 51, is also a former Idaho Human Rights Commissioner. She is married with two children.

Erwin, 48, is single with three grown children. She surprised Reents and viewers statewide when she walked out of a televised debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Idaho Press Club, saying there was a media conspiracy to ignore her and McMurrian’s views.

Some media outlets didn’t cover the two when they went on a campaign tour, she said. “We believe this is not a coincidence but we suspect a conspiracy.”

Erwin’s sudden departure forced the cancellation of the debate on Idaho Public Television.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face a U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate, Alan Stroud of Boise, as well as Otter in November.

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