Stapilus: Shrill Falls Short In Idaho

Most years, the job of precinct committee person (each major party has them) flies quietly under the radar. In Idaho (and some other places), not this year. Across Idaho,battles for precinct committee positions have erupted, reflecting an ideological struggle inside the Republican Party. One of the problems Idaho Democrats long have had is the lack,in many places, of precinct leaders. These are important,basic, building-block positions for party organization,important for local organizing and choosing local party leaders, and sometime filling vacancies for offices like state legislator. In Idaho, the Republican Party long has outshone the Democrats in getting many more of those spots filled.(Neither party fills them all.) Ordinarily, only one person runs for nearly all precinct committee spots, but this year Republicans had an unusually large number of contests, in places around the state. They became intense enough that I spotted something I’ve not seen before, in any year – a campaign website devoted to one precinct, aimed at one political party. It is Kootenai County precinct 61; the Web writers describe it as “A resource for the Republican Party mem-
bers of Precinct 61”/ Randy Stapilus , Ridenbaugh Press. More here .

Question: Is the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee more balanced today than it was before the Idaho GOP primary election?