Otter, Fulcher Rely On Ex-Lobbyists

Sen. Russ Fulcher says Gov. Butch Otter’s reliance on lobbyists to operate his re-election campaign calls into question who he’d represent in a third term — ordinary Idahoans or “people with cash and connections.” In a news release Wednesday, Fulcher notes that Otter has four lobbyists on his campaign staff . The release, sent by Campaign Manager China Gum, neglected to mention Gum has twice worked as a lobbyist. Otter Campaign Manager Jayson Ronk, who took a leave of absence as vice president of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry to run the campaign; Finance Director Martin Bilbao, a lobbyist last registered in 2010 who became account services manager for the troubled school broadband provider, Education Networks of America; Lincoln Smyser, whose 2014 clients included the scandal-plagued outgoing operator of Idaho’s private prison, Corrections Corporation of America; and Elli Brown, whose 2014 clients at Veritas Advisors included the Northwest Food Processors Association/ Dan Popkey , Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: And you wonder what’s wrong with politics?