Otter to make run for governor

BOISE – U.S. Rep. C.L. “Butch” Otter will run for governor in 2006.

Otter for Idaho filed the necessary paperwork Wednesday with the secretary of state’s office to form a campaign committee headed by former Gov. Phil Batt.

“Butch Otter is uniquely qualified as governor of the state of Idaho. I am proud to help him in this effort. We will run a vigorous campaign,” Batt said in a prepared statement.

Speculation about a possible Otter run has been rampant for months.

“I don’t think it’s any secret that even as congressman, Butch’s heart is with the people of Idaho all the time,” said Jason Lehosit, Otter’s campaign spokesman. “This is just the beginning stage. We’re still a long way from the election. We’re just going out and starting to raise some money.”

Even Naomi Preston, the Democratic challenger that Otter defeated in November for his third term in Congress, said during the race that Otter’s campaign was less about beating her than preparing for the expected showdown in the May 2006 primary against Republican Lt. Gov. James Risch. The winner gets the chance to succeed GOP Gov. Dirk Kempthorne.

But as usual, the 62-year-old Otter on Wednesday had no comment about the upcoming race.

Risch, however, said he was surprised to see Otter’s early filing, calling it premature.

“We’re only 42 days away from an election and people who have been elected to public office haven’t even taken an oath of office to do what they’ve been elected to do,” he said. “I can tell you this: Having served in public office as long as I have it’s a real distraction to doing the job that you’re elected to do if you’re running for a different office. I’ve had experience in that regard.”

Risch said that he and his wife have made a decision on a bid, but he stopped short of saying that he actually would run.

“It’s been our intent to file documentation with the secretary of state’s office but we’re going to do it on the schedule that we have decided on,” Risch said. “I don’t think it’s a secret that there are people around the state who have been working to elect me to that office. I have neither encouraged them nor have I discouraged them.”

Lehosit said the timing of Otter’s filing was because he already had people seeking to contribute to his campaign. Without the filing, Otter could not accept contributions.

It had “nothing to do with” the president’s selection of Michael Leavitt – the head of the Environmental Protection Agency – to be his secretary of Health and Human Services, Lehosit said. Kempthorne is on the short list to replace Leavitt, and that would boost Risch into the governor’s seat.

Even if that were to happen, Lehosit said, Otter would seek the seat.

“You need to talk to Gov. Kempthorne about that or Lt. Gov. Risch,” Lehosit said, declining to give additional details.

Risch also declined to comment on the possibility that Kempthorne would move to the EPA.

Whether intentional or not, the timing is intriguing, said Jim Weatherby, a Boise State University professor of public policy. He said he suspects Otter was looking for a “preemptive strike.”

“I have no idea whether that has anything to do with it or whether this has been in the works for some time, but the timing is interesting – particularly any filing for another office before you’re sworn into the next term of your current office,” Weatherby said. “That would be a dream contest, to have a battle between Otter and Risch for the governor’s office.”

Lehosit also said Otter’s gift totaling nearly $48,000 to fellow Republican candidates seeking state legislative offices during the last campaign was not intended to boost support for his run for governor, despite the claims of political watchers.

“Congressman Otter’s always been supportive of the Republican team, and he personally has made contributions to the candidates, so I don’t think there’s a direct relationship between those. That was in preparation for everybody who was on the ticket in 2004. We had some extra money,” Lehosit said.

Carolyn Boyce, chairwoman of Idaho’s Democratic Party, said she has talked to some potential Democratic candidates, urging them to file early as well, but declined to offer names. She said there would likely be more than one Democrat vying for the open seat.