Retiring Rep. Henderson endorses candidate in 3-way race for his seat

Retiring Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, has endorsed Avista Corp. official Greg Gfeller for the seat Henderson will be vacating next year, as Gfeller heads into a hotly contested three-way GOP primary race. “I was looking for someone with a business background, because jobs are such a major issue in Kootenai County and we need to expand the economy and the tax base,” said Henderson, 91. You can read my full story here at spokesman.com.

Gfeller – pronounced gee-feller – faces Jeff Ward, president of the Reagan Republicans group, and Don Cheatham, a retired former longtime Los Angeles police officer, in the District 3 GOP primary. No Democrat is running, so the Republican primary will determine the winner.

Gfeller is director of operations for Avista’s East Region, which stretches from Bonners Ferry in the north to Grangeville in the south, and also includes Pullman and Clarkston, Wash. He’s been with Avista for more than 36 years, and is a former lineman; he holds a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Washington University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University. Gfeller has lived in the Post Falls area since 1996.

“Collaboration is a big thing in our company – that’s how we get things done,” Gfeller said. “I think I can bring that to the table.” Gfeller, 58, said, “I’m totally pro-growth, pro-jobs. I think government’s role is to provide infrastructure.” As for the campaign, he said, “I’m all in. I told Frank that I’m going to do whatever I need to do to be a candidate.”