Local Dems out-raise GOP

This year North Idaho Democrats have something often missing in past elections – money.

In Coeur d’Alene the Democratic candidates for the Idaho Legislature are out-raising the Republicans. One of the largest war chests statewide is for a Democrat in District 1, which stretches to the Canadian border.

But it’s still a guess whether the cash will help legislative candidates win seats in Tuesday’s election, sending more Democrats to balance the Republican-dominated Legislature.

“It’s not an organized effort,” said Bill Kersting, Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee chairman. “There’s just so much interest in this election that a great many people are getting involved.”

And that means people are writing checks and volunteering their time to stuff envelopes and knock on doors.

He said it’s not the local legislative races that are getting people fired up. Instead it’s the contentious presidential campaign sparked by interest in the Iraq invasion, Kersting said.

Yet he acknowledges the national spotlight gives energy to local races.

The latest campaign finance report, which details all the money raised through Oct. 25, shows that District 4 Democrat candidates have larger war chests than their GOP challengers. Rep. George Sayler, D-Coeur d’Alene, raised $24,364 compared to Republican candidate and political newcomer Dan Yake, who has $19,660.

In the district’s other House race, Democrat Mike Gridley has raised $37,025 compared to Republican Marge Chadderdon’s $23,653.

Kootenai County Republican Central Committee Chairwoman Donna Montgomery said she isn’t aware of what the Democrats have been doing because she’s too busy trying to get Republicans elected.

“If the Democrats are as riled up as the Republicans about this campaign then they probably do have more funds,” Montgomery said.

The candidate who has raised the most of any legislative candidate in North Idaho –$63,088 – is water resources scientist Steve Elgar, a Democrat running for the Idaho House in District 1. If Elgar wins the open seat it perhaps would mean Democrats could regain a foothold in a former area of strength. Just a decade ago, the district was represented entirely by Democrats in the state Legislature, and now is represented entirely by Republicans.

Elgar’s Republican challenger Eric Anderson has $26,214, while Constitution Party candidate Frank Reichert raised only $838 by Oct. 10. Reichert hasn’t filed a more recent report.

In District 5, which covers Post Falls, the Republicans have the most money. Even though the district boundaries have changed, it’s been about a decade since this area sent a Democrat to Boise.

Republican Bob Nonini is the top fund-raiser of all the Kootenai County candidates with $48,598. Democrat challenger David Larsen has raised $22,291 while Constitution Party candidate Rose Johnson has $471.

Nonini said all the candidates are working hard because they know money matters. And he said many candidates are putting their own personal wealth into the race.

The former Republican Central Committee chairman gave $10,000 to his campaign during the May primary and so far has repaid only $2,900. Larsen loaned his campaign $2,000 Monday.

For the other House race, Republican Frank Henderson, a former Post Falls mayor and Kootenai County Commissioner, has $21,824. Democrat challenger Lyndon Harriman, a local school teacher, has $4,567.

Also in District 5, Sen. Dick Compton, R-Coeur d’Alene, has $17,788. That’s $12,778 more than Democrat challenger Ian Stenseng, a 24-year old political newcomer.

Boise State University political science professor Jim Weatherby said the Democrats need money to win.

He said the party is concentrating on getting local and legislative candidates elected instead of putting all their effort and resources into the U.S. congressional and senate races.

“They can build from that a foundation,” Weatherby said. “And for the party that will develop greater credibility to entice candidates to step forward with the prospect that they may actually win a major race.”

Kersting said he doesn’t think that was the party’s strategy. For the federal races, he said viable Democrat candidates just didn’t come forward and there wasn’t heavy recruitment.

U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, is being challenged by write-in Democrat Scott McClure of Jerome. U.S. Rep. Butch Otter, R-Idaho, is facing Democrat Naomi Preston of Eagle, a political newcomer.

Yet he said the Democrats do have a heavy focus on legislative races.

“We’re really working to get out the vote,” he said.