Lambert Mounts A Long-Shot Race Against Crapo

U.S. Senate

Mike Crapo, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, is one of Idaho’s most popular politicians, but that hasn’t stopped a Murray, Idaho, resident from challenging him in the Republican primary as both seek a shot at an open U.S. Senate seat.

The winner of the two-way primary will face Democrat Bill Mauk in November. Mauk, a Boise attorney and former state Democratic Party chairman, is unopposed in the primary.

Matt Lambert has run for office in every election since 1992, and though 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.

Lambert said his top issue this year is pushing to upgrade all roads. The military could help with spreading sand and clearing snow in winter, he suggested.

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

Crapo, a Harvard-educated lawyer, former leader of the state Senate and three-term congressman from Idaho’s 2nd District, says his priority if elected to the Senate 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 (pronounced CRAY-po) 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.”I just felt that it was appropriate,” Crapo said. “We’re both on the ballot, people should have the opportunity to hear what we have to say.”

But Lambert bowed out, saying 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.

The job

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.

The pay: $136,700

Minimum qualifications: At least 30 years old, U.S. citizen for at least nine years, Idaho resident.