Guv candidates tout supporters, Allred gathers ‘Republicans for Allred’

Both major-party candidates for governor released lists of supporters today, with incumbent GOP Gov. Butch Otter’s list including regional chairmen around the state, from Freeman Duncan in Region 1 to Madison County Commissioner Kimber Ricks in Region 7, and continuing with county and “grassroots leaders” to stretch on for a total of five pages. Democratic challenger Keith Allred’s list was shorter, but  there was something notable about it: It was all Republicans. Allred held a press conference on the Statehouse steps with nearly two dozen GOP supporters, from former longtime GOP Ada County Sheriff Vaughn Killeen to current Twin Falls GOP County Commissioner Tom Mikesell.

Killeen said when Allred first approached him several months ago, “I wouldn’t commit - I’ve been a Republican my entire adult life.” But, he said, “I started thinking, am I more loyal to the state of Idaho or to the Republican Party? … A candidate like this doesn’t come along every four years.” Former GOP state Sen. Judi Danielson said, “The decision is not to become a Democrat - the decision is to be an Allred supporter.” She said Idaho needs “thoughtful” leadership. “The shoot from the hip response is not good for Idaho government,” Danielson said.

More than half those assembled on the Statehouse steps today were members of Allred’s Common Interest citizen group, which collaborated to take positions on issues for which Allred then lobbied the state Legislature. Former GOP state lawmaker Dennis Hansen, who was appointed to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission by GOP Govs. Phil Batt and Dirk Kempthorne and who once gave a Lincoln Day speech for Otter when Otter was running for lieutenant governor, said, “I am a very strong, committed Republican. … The issues facing Idaho and this nation are some of the most challenging that I have seen. … We need somebody that has the ability and leadership to reach consensus and move us forward, which has lacked the last four years.”

Sharon Parry, an Idaho Falls city councilwoman who coordinated Otter’s campaign in Bonneville County in 2006, said, “We want our conservative values portrayed in the governor’s office in a very consistent way.” She said, “It was actually a fairly easy decision once I decided that every Idahoan deserves a voice in the governor’s office.” Sarah Benson Burton of Eagle, who was Miss Idaho in 1991 and whose great-uncle was Ezra Taft Benson, said she and her husband Dan have known Allred and his wife, Christine, for more than 10 years. “They are good-hearted and really want what’s best for Idaho,” she said. “They’re not in it for the politics.”

Here’s what Otter had to say about his list of supporters released today: “These community leaders play a vital role in my re-election campaign and I am extremely grateful to have them on my team. We have an important message for the people of Idaho and together we all work throughout the state to make sure every citizen knows we are going in the right direction and we must stay the course.”