MK: I’ll Have $$$ To Handle Smears

Councilman Mike Kennedy ( re: Minnick, Bieter @ MikeK fund-raiser) : Two years ago former Senator Kathy Sims broke the law (by her own later admission) in putting together a last minute direct mail hit piece to support her favored candidates, two of whom are running together again - Gookin and Brannon. The incumbents didn’t have the time or resources to respond as well as they could have in my opinion, though they did win. We learned yesterday that the same group of folks are now trying to make the campaign personal. Ok, it helps to know that. But I won’t make that same mistake of not responding to falsehoods - I’m prepared to respond swiftly and totally to any smear shots and I’ll make sure I have the resources to do it. Full post below .

Question: Do you expect a last-minute, direct-mail attack against Coeur d’Alene council incumbents, like the one that occurred over the final weekend of the 2007 campaign?

Howdy! We did have an event in Boise last week, hosted by Mayor Dave Bieter and Rep. Walt Minnick at Dan Williams’ house. They are old friends and I respect their friendship and appreciate their offer to help. It was well attended by many friends and some family down there (my mother-in-law was in attendance!). All cities in Idaho have to work closely together because so much of what can (and can’t) be accomplished at the city level rests on what the state legislature does or doesn’t do. It also helps to have solid connections with federal officeholders - we’re getting a new stop light this fall on Kathleen and Howard from federal stimulus funds.

I have friends from many different circles there, my service on the board of Catholic Charities of Idaho, personal family relationships, past campaigns and the like all around Idaho. These groups were well represented at the event in Boise and I was pleased about that.

Two years ago former Senator Kathy Sims broke the law (by her own later admission) in putting together a last minute direct mail hit piece to support her favored candidates, two of whom are running together again - Gookin and Brannon. The incumbents didn’t have the time or resources to respond as well as they could have in my opinion, though they did win. We learned yesterday that the same group of folks are now trying to make the campaign personal. Ok, it helps to know that. But I won’t make that same mistake of not responding to falsehoods - I’m prepared to respond swiftly and totally to any smear shots and I’ll make sure I have the resources to do it.

I’ve been lucky that there are a good number of people who have contributed to my campaigns - including a lot of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Some of those contributions are from my family and friends who live out of state but support me. I think that’s okay, and it shows a strong bipartisan level of support in a non-partisan race.

As always, if anyone wants to talk more about this issue or the campaign, give me a call at 661-7337 or by email at: mike@idahokennedys.com .