Crow And Alltus Set Good Example

In religious right circles, believers are quick to recite priorities they consider proper to living a good life: God first. Then, helpmate and family. Work. Ministry. Fellow man.

Walking that talk is another matter.

Two Kootenai County legislators deserve credit for putting their families ahead of political service and resisting temptation to seek a fourth term: state Sen. Gordon Crow, R-Hayden, and state Rep. Jeff Alltus, R-Hayden Lake. In each case, a young son made the difference.

“I came here probably figuring this would be my last session,” Alltus told The Spokesman-Review. “My son had asked me not to run, so to me, that’s like the ultimate, most important thing.”

Crow, the only committee chairman from North Idaho (Senate Finance and Human Resources), resisted pressure from Republican leadership when he decided to quit: “Over the years, they (wife Sandy and son Andrew, 6) have set aside many of their own needs and desires so that I might serve in the Senate. Now, it’s their turn.”

The lure of power and fawning lobbyists are hard to resist. But both men made the right decision to stay home next year. For all its perks and prestige, the life of a citizen legislator is hard during winter sessions for lawmakers with young families.

During his six years in Boise, Alltus went through a divorce and now is trying to raise his son, 14, on his own. That’s difficult under the best circumstances. Alltus, of course, also was involved in a hunting controversy in which he eventually pleaded guilty and was fined for shooting two elk and using his son’s tag on one of them.

Some called Alltus a hypocrite for his personal problems. But he was consistent in his support of family values. That was evident again this session when cultural conservatives in Post Falls turned to him for help in writing a law that would rein in a State Line strip joint. Alltus’ legislation didn’t go anywhere. But bills often require a few years to run the legislative gauntlet to become a law.

Ultimately, Alltus underscored his commitment to family values by stepping down to finish raising his son.

Crow faced even more temptation. As a committee chairman, he’s been wined and dined for two years by powerful lobbyists. And viewed as a future Senate leader. In his six years in office, he’s had substantial success. He was one of the chief architects of welfare reform. And he’s been a key player in the ongoing Medicaid reforms.

It was getting hard, however, to leave his family on Monday mornings for a trip to the Spokane airport and Boise.

“My son will graduate in 11 years from high school,” Crow said. “Then, I figure I can come back and be sagely and wise.”

He’s off to a good start.