Benewah Democrat helping Sali campaign
BOISE – Jack Buell, longtime Democratic county commissioner in Benewah County, has signed on as a county co-chairman of conservative Republican Congressman Bill Sali’s re-election campaign.
“Obviously the congressman is honored to have somebody of Commissioner Buell’s stature supporting his campaign,” said Sali spokesman Wayne Hoffman. He said Buell’s role illustrates the freshman congressman’s bipartisan support, though he couldn’t name any other Democratic supporters.
Buell has a history of supporting conservative Republican candidates despite continually being elected as a Democrat.
His sister-in-law Jeanne Buell, vice chairwoman of the Idaho Democratic Party and a Barack Obama superdelegate, said, “If it was in some of your other counties, that county party would be having a fit.”
Jeanne Buell recalled clashing with Jack Buell over a Kootenai County commissioner race in 1994, when she was backing Democrat Marc McGregor and he was backing Republican Dick Compton. Each Buell took out an ad in the Nickel’s Worth for his or her favored candidate – and they ended up on facing pages.
Buell’s co-chairmen for the Sali campaign in Benewah County are conservative Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, and his wife, Carole. Buell, a prominent and influential businessman in the area, has long been a supporter of Harwood.
Buell, who didn’t return calls for comment, said in a Sali news release, “During his short time in office, Congressman Sali has shown he has the guts to stick up for Idaho’s families and businesses. He understands the needs of his district, and he’s willing to go to bat for us.”
Benewah County Democratic Chairwoman Cheryl Halverson noted that Buell is up for re-election this year – he’s been in office a quarter-century – and is running unopposed as a Democrat. He long ago stopped attending county Democratic Party events.
“It’s an awkward situation for our party in this county,” Halverson said. “I’m rather uncomfortable with the whole thing.”
Chuck Oxley, spokesman for the Idaho Democratic Party, said, “It’s a free country, and … he can do what he wants. Certainly the party position is not behind Bill Sali. We think Bill Sali’s been a complete catastrophe for the state of Idaho.”
Hoffman said Sali is winning support from Democrats and independent voters as well as Republicans. “There are a number of prominent Democrats who have voiced their strong support for Congressman Sali, and have indicated they will come forward publicly when the time is right,” he said.
Sali’s Democratic opponent, Walt Minnick, isn’t bothered by Buell’s move, said Minnick campaign spokesman John Foster. “We’re going to run a race based on issues, and who’s the best person to represent the 1st Congressional District, not so much who’s a Democrat and who’s a Republican,” Foster said.
Besides, Minnick – the former CEO of a timber products company – used to be a Republican, even working in the Nixon White House. He became a Democrat in 1996 when he challenged Sen. Larry Craig.