DFO: Souza stands at a crossroads

State Sen. Mary Souza, R-Coeur d’Alene, is standing at a cross-roads. She can continue to straddle the mainstream/Tea Party divide. Or she can become effective, a decent replacement for former state Sen. John Goedde. Mary’s rope-a-dope maneuvering was captured in two incidents that happened in the closing days of the GOP primary campaign. She received the endorsement of the mainstream North Idaho PAC, even though she was unopposed. Then, she turned around and wrote one of her snarky newsletters warning Tea Party/Redoubt types that state Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur d’Alene, Paul Amador and Peter Riggs are too young to be effective in the Legislature. Also, she hinted that the Coeur d’Alene Tribe was interested in taking over all of Lake Coeur d’Alene. A bogus water issue that excites Tea Party/Redoubt types. She didn’t seem to mind that the incumbents in the races against Amador (Rep. Kathy Sims) and Riggs (Rep. Donald Cheatham) are among the most ineffective legislators in the state.

The GOP primary wins by Malek and Amador show that Coeur d’Alene voters are tired of legislators who just vote no — or candidates who are prized by the local Tea Party. Souza took advantage of the depressed voter turnout two years ago to upset senator Goedde, a Republican known for his support of public education. She won after being beaten badly in the mayor’s race against Steve Widmyer six months earlier. Surprisingly, her voting record for the last two years is somewhat moderate. She only received a C-plus from the “Freedom Index” of the Idaho Freedom Forum. She voted differently than Rep. Kathy Sims, R-CdA, who lost to Amador.

For years, Souza has been a lightening rod in Coeur d’Alene. She, Sims & Co divided the community and almost succeeded in forcing a recall election against three-term Mayor Sandi Bloem and three City Council members in spring 2012. Now, she has a voting record and Coeur d’Alene residents are watching her. That R after he name doesn’t play as well in purplish Coeur d’Alene as it may in the northern part of the county. A win in November against Democrat Kristi Milan isn’t a sure thing. A win in the 2018 primary is less sure unless Souza mends her ways and decides she represents the city of Coeur d’Alene. Not the Tea Party/Redoubt side of the conservative divide only/ DFO.

• Newsletter: Souza takes on “young” candidates Malek, Amador, Riggs
• Last fall, Souza voiced strong support for Malek challenger Arthur Macomber