Otter Offers Best Skills, Experience

Sat., May 13, 2000

By Ken Sands kens@spokesman.com

Ten days from now, a very important election will take place in Idaho. The Republican primary for the U.S. House of Representatives will bestow instant front-runner status on one of eight candidates.

The 1st Congressional District, which elected Helen Chenoweth to three terms, is strongly conservative and pro-Republican. The lone Democrat in the race is Moscow City Councilwoman Linda Pall. It’s critical for voters to choose carefully in the GOP primary.

Depending on the strength of the candidate elected, North Idaho’s lone congressman could play a key role in some crucial issues:

Funding for Highway 95 improvements. All four of the “serious” Republican candidates - Butch Otter, Ron McMurray, Dennis Mansfield and Craig Benjamin - recognize the highway is a problem. Otter offers by far the best plan. “My idea is to create a much larger vision, a much larger mission for Highway 95, and that is to propose 95 as a NAFTA highway,” he said. If the route were designated as one of four major north-south routes across the country, it would promote regional and even international trade.

Saving the salmon. What began as a scientific debate over proposals to save Snake River salmon has become a political debate. This debate could drive a wedge between Lewiston-area dam supporters and southern Idaho farmers interested in protecting water rights.

Idaho needs leadership from a congressman who has political experience and the negotiating skills to help reach a compromise on this thorny issue. As lieutenant governor, Otter clearly has the most experience of the top four GOP candidates. He must be careful, however, to keep an open mind on this issue and avoid locking onto one “solution.”

Promoting growth of the high-tech economy and international trade. Gone are the days when Idaho’s economy relied primarily on resource-based industries. While mining, timber, farming and ranching are still important and viable, the future is in high-tech and international trade. Otter, who ran the international trade department at Simplot Corp., has the savvy to help make Idaho known for something besides potatoes and racists.

Benjamin, McMurray and Mansfield agree with Otter on many core GOP issues. All four are staunchly conservative - which fits the 1st District. But Otter is the best of the bunch and we recommend Idaho voters make him the Republican nominee.

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