We were wrong about Lawrence Wasden.

We thought he’d be another southern Idaho good old boy who was more interested in the health of the dominant Republican Party than fulfilling his duties in the attorney general’s office. Two years ago, we endorsed his Democratic opponent, a respected trial lawyer, over Wasden, a baby-faced former Eagle Scout with an Ozzie and Harriett family. Basically, we thought the other guy was more experienced and disapproved of Wasden’s opposition to Indian gaming, an economic savior on the reservation.

We didn’t see Wasden’s passion for the law and fairness.

Rather than follow the herd, Wasden has caused Republican leaders, such as Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, to squawk by doing his job regardless of consequences. As a result of Wasden’s diligence, Kempthorne lost a loophole that allowed him to use campaign funds to finance off-season spending and travel. Davis and other anti-gambling lawmakers believe Wasden double-crossed them when he refused to appoint a special independent counsel to challenge a voter-passed tribal gaming initiative. Wasden, however, said he was just doing his job, upholding the law, despite his personal religious convictions.

Wasden is the kind of person any state should be happy to have in office – independent, conscientious, passionate and impartial.

“He’s had the backbone to stand up to the people that I know are bringing enormous pressure on him to do things differently,” former attorney general Tony Park, a Democrat, told The Spokesman-Review.

Two months after taking office, Wasden prosecuted Boise Mayor Brent Coles, a fellow Republican and Mormon, on corruption charges, effectively ending Coles’ political career. Also, Wasden aggressively pursued the University Place scandal in Boise involving some of the state’s top Republicans. After declaring a conflict of interest for his office in the matter, he forced the reluctant state Board of Education to release the findings of a $1 million report.

As a result, unhappy Republicans have threatened to run a primary opponent against Wasden in two years.

“He has a lot of explaining to do,” groused Majority Leader Davis to The Idaho Statesman earlier this summer. “There is substantial dissatisfaction with his judgment.”

Wasden’s judgment has been impeccable, except for his decision to appeal a court ruling last fall that found the Legislature violated the state constitution when it tried to legislate its way out of a long-standing school funding lawsuit.

Kempthorne and other top Republicans might not like the job Wasden’s doing. But Idahoans should.