Chenoweth Earns 3Rd Term In House

Reluctantly, The Spokesman-Review has endorsed Congressman Helen Chenoweth twice before.

In 1994, the Republican flamethrower got our nod by default. We changed our pick after incumbent Democrat Larry LaRocco admitted he’d once had a messy office affair that ultimately involved a sex-discrimination settlement.

Two years ago, we endorsed Chenoweth holding our noses. We were bothered by the rhetoric and missteps that dogged her. But we realized she represented Idaho mainstream values, with a voting record nearly identical to the rest of the Idaho delegation. Besides, Democrat Dan Williams didn’t make a good case for himself.

Now, Chenoweth is running for her third and self-imposed last term. We’re still not enthusiastic about her. But she’s our choice again - clearly, this time.

Again, Williams hasn’t told us why he’s better. On major issues, he claims his positions generally parallel Chenoweth’s - though the positions of his party certainly don’t. In fact, conservationists are wary of him. They see little difference between Chenoweth and him on environmental and natural resource issues - and fear Williams could launch effective attacks against their interests just as LaRocco did.

Chenoweth proved her effectiveness when Republican leaders appointed her chairwoman of the House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, the panel that oversees the timber supply. With U.S. Sen. Larry Craig heading the Senate’s committee, Idaho has a great deal of sway over federal timber policy.

In August 1997, Chenoweth underscored her clout again by organizing a tour of Idaho forests that included House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Floor Leader Dick Armey and Majority Whip Tom Delay. Afterward, Gingrich showed he got the point of the exercise when he said, “Until you’ve been in states that are overwhelmingly owned by the federal government, you cannot appreciate how maddening bureaucracy can be.”

Commendably, Chenoweth has voted to support important Republican efforts to reform welfare, save Medicare, balance the federal budget, shrink government, and return power to the states and local governments.

Sure, she made another maddening misstep last year when she said the lack of Hispanics and blacks in North Idaho was due to the cold climate. But she later apologized for the remark. Then, she was forced to admit this fall that she’d once had an affair with a married former business partner - after blasting President Clinton’s behavior with Monica Lewinsky in campaign ads.

But the missteps are growing fewer.

Still, we hope both sides come up with better candidates next time.