Keough Meeting High Expectations

Four years ago, The Idaho Spokesman-Review predicted that Shawn Keough would be a political newcomer to watch if she was elected to the state Senate from Bonner and Boundary counties. She won her race and since has become one of the Idaho Senate’s hardest workers.

As vice chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee she has worked with other North Idaho delegates to win considerable funding for dangerous U.S. Highway 95. Also, she’s been instrumental in forcing the Legislature to pay attention to state school building and safety needs.

Now, as the Sandpoint Republican seeks a third term, those issues remain important, along with the need to use Idaho’s huge surplus for tax relief and rural economic development. This newspaper gladly endorses Keough for a third time. Also, we endorse Republican George Eskridge and Democrat Steve Klatt in the two District 1 House races.

The choices in the three District 1 races were tough because all the major candidates are qualified to hold office. They also share similar opinions on the key issues.

Keough is right to tout her seniority as a deciding factor in her race with Democrat Steve Johnson. A veteran senator who’s next in line to join the powerful Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee would have far more clout than a freshman in the minority party. Keough plans to use her position to ensure that the Transportation Department follows through on money appropriated to fix Highway 95 and to continue focusing attention on severe school building problems, like those in Boundary County.

Before retiring, Eskridge spent most of his career as a manager for the Bonneville Power Administration. He has worked with congressmen, legislatures and electric cooperatives on numerous controversial issues, including the routing of power lines. That background gives him an edge over state Rep. Jerry Stoicheff, D-Sandpoint. Eskridge’s experience will be invaluable as Idaho fights energy deregulation and tries to keep cheap power.

Klatt, a moderately conservative Democrat, is a former Bonner County commissioner and Sandpoint city councilman who has continued to be involved in his community. His connections to business interests and past roles in local government give him a slight edge over state Rep. John Campbell, R-Sandpoint. Klatt believes the state needs to provide some funding for economic development so small towns like Priest River, Hope and Clark Fork can help themselves. Klatt has the experience to provide a strong opposition voice in a Legislature that tends to walk in lock step with its supermajority Republican leadership.