Statesman: Introducing The RIVO

At the Idaho Statesman, opinionator Kevin Richert has discovered a new sort of political animal — RIVOs (Republicans In Voting Only). Among the RIVOs, you can list Kermit Kiebert of Ponderay, former Parma mayor Margie Watson and Corey Smith of Idaho Falls. All describe themselves as Democrats or Independents in real life but voted Republican in the GOP’s new closed primary, because it made sense to them to do so. The problem? All three sit on state boards that are suppose to be balanced to some extent between the dominant Republican Party and Democrats and Independents. Richert writes: “Apologists for the closed primary will say these appointees got their comeuppance — especially Kiebert, a textbook example of a primary crossover voter. But the outing of Kiebert comes at a cost to countless other Idahoans.” Full editorial here.

Question: In face of an outcry against their closed primary, Idaho Republicans decided to study its impact (read: don’t hold your breath that they’ll do something). Meanwhile, some state boards are unbalanced politically. What should be done about “Democrats” and “Independents” who voted Republican?