Campaign ‘98
Sign, no sign, dollar sign
Call it a not-so-free rip-off of free speech. Larry Belmont, Democratic candidate for Idaho’s 3rd Legislative District, has learned one reason the price of campaigning is so high. Ten of his red-and-white campaign signs disappeared from yards between his house and downtown. Not only does that mean money lost, “that’s the meanness that a lot of people are turned off about in politics,” Belmont said. “I can see now why good candidates don’t like to run. It gets to be a pain.”
Filing for Kenck
Our fashion advisers, meanwhile, report that state Senate candidate Larry Kenck could use their services. It seems Kenck is passing out emery boards emblazoned with “Elect Larry L. Kenck” that he purchased from an advertising outfit in Nebraska. Might have been a waste of $195, Larry.
Our unofficial poll indicates most women don’t pack those disposable nail files around anymore. Now, free lottery tickets with your name on ‘em …
Noxious absence
Idaho may have more noxious weeds than you can count, but you wouldn’t know it by counting politicians. Bonner County Commissioner Dale Van Stone recently went to a meeting where the Idaho Department of Agriculture was trying to generate support for its cause. It wants legislation to get state money to match federal grants to fight what’s becoming an overwhelming problem. Talk about lonely. Although all legislators and county commissioners were invited, Van Stone found the audience added up to him and two state legislators.
Counting on apathy
The U.S. Census Bureau is expecting record low turnout at the polls in November. And some political strategists pin it on the conservatives. “The Progressive” - a liberal publication - says it’s part of the Republican national strategy to win big. The party’s goal, the magazine reports, is for a record low that beats even the dismal 1994 turnout of 38 percent. Conspiracy or not, it’s a sure bet that voter numbers will be a tiny percentage of those with an interest in the major league baseball playoffs. And it doesn’t take a magazine genius to figure it out. The most conservative voters have long been the most faithful about voting. That leaves the majority at home with extra time to whine about the outcome.
Find money on the Web
OK, you won’t strike it rich. But you can find out which candidates for Kootenai County offices have. Their campaign finance reports are posted on the county Web site. Start with www.co.kootenai.id.us/elections/ and then follow the instructions.
Campaign calender
Democrat Dan Williams is wheeling around North Idaho this weekend with his bus tour. He spent Friday evening in Kellogg and Smelterville. Saturday it was Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint, Coeur d’Alene, Moscow and Kendrick. Today it’s Grangeville and back to Moscow.
See your favorite Republican serve up bratwurst Monday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Kootenai County Republican Party’s annual Octoberfest. It’s at the Lake City Senior Center on Lakewood Drive. All of the Republican candidates for state, national and local offices will be there, serving the food and doing the dishes. There will be pumpkin carving, pumpkin painting and other games for the kids.
The Republicans also are having their own bus tour. They will be in Rathdrum, Spirit Lake, Blanchard, Oldtown, Priest River and Sandpoint on Monday, to name a few. Breakfast will be served Tuesday morning to any who come to the Broken Wheel in Kellogg. Get your eggs, coffee and campaigning at 8 a.m. sharp. From there, it’s off to a high school assembly in Wallace from 10 a.m. to noon, a stop in St. Maries at 1 p.m., and a candidates forum at University of Idaho at 6:30 p.m.