Bee announces local, state endorsements

The Daily Bee today continues its tradition of endorsing local and statewide races.

While many newspapers have shied away from this practice, we feel that our exposure to the candidates gives us a unique perspective.

We have spoken with every candidate we are endorsing and the vast majority attended a forum co-sponsored by the Bee and the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce

Our endorsements are not given to people we necessarily feel will win a race. The endorsements are not given to candidates because they spend money with us for advertising, printing or rack cards.

Please take time to learn about candidates on your own. There have been plenty of forums this year and the Bee published a voters' guide this week.

Bee endorsements:

Bonner County Sheriff:

Daryl Wheeler (R) is the easy choice in his race against Larry Hanna. Wheeler's impressive resume and vision for a department in disarray is much more strong than Hanna's. While Hanna is an amiable man, the BCSO needs a firm hand and a veteran to keep and attract the kind of deputies this county needs.

County Commission, Second District:

Incumbent Joe Young (R) is our choice to continue as county commissioner. Young has showed himself to be a listener and a commissioner who does his homework. Brian Orr, a former commissioner and mayor, might be a good choice if the county wasn't facing so many challenges. With turbulent economic times ahead, we feel Young slightly edges out Orr. We must add the county would be in competent hands with either person.

County Commission, First District:

Incumbent Todd Crossett (D) receives our strong endorsement to retain his seat over challenger Cornel Rasor. Crossett has come a long way in the short amount of time he has been in office. Rasor hasn't proven he has the county's best interests in mind and many people have compared him with the highly partisan former commissioner, Bud Mueller.

We would hope Rasor would get involved with solving county issues as a citizen before running for office. While on the job training works for some people, there are concerns about what Rasor would do with land use issues.

Legislative District 2, State Senator

Joyce Broadsword (R) receives our endorsement mainly because we haven't seen her opponent, Rand Lewis. Lewis has strong backing in Benewah and Shoshone counties in this district that is the epitome of gerrymandering.

Broadsword has been an ally for Idaho families and while she may have missed the mark on a few votes - not outlawing smoking in bowling alleys comes to mind - she does her homework and is very efficient in keeping in touch with her constituents/

Legislative District 1, State Representative Position B

George Eskridge (R) earns our endorsement for what appears to be his last legislative session. Eskridge knows energy issues better than most legislators and is the go-to legislator for regional energy questions.

His opponent, Tom Hollingsworth, is well-known in Boundary County because of his work with the sheriff's office and seniors. If this seat only represented Boundary County, he would have our endorsement.

With a tight budget and a crushing energy concerns and opportunities, we feel Eskridge needs to return to Boise.

Legislative District 1, State Representative, Position A

Eric Anderson (R) has proven to be the hardest working member of our local delegation to Boise. We have a hard-working group so that is an accomplishment.

 Anderson has proven to be more than a single-issue legislator. Opponent Steve Elgar has spent a lot of time and money misrepresenting Anderson's belief that chemicals aren't the only way to fight the infestation of Eurasian milfoil.

Anderson hasn't proven to be a good campaigner while Elgar has knocked on every door in both counties. There are Elgar signs everywhere.

The main difference between these two gentlemen is that Elgar is at his best while campaigning, while Anderson is at his best and is engaged year-round.

Anderson is an active member of many local boards and contributes to the betterment of our community all of the time, while Elgar seems to rise up around election time and isn't as engaged year-round as Anderson is.

Being a state legislator takes more of a time commitment than just during the session and election time.

Anderson receives our endorsement, but unless he finds a way to be a better campaigner, our thought is Elgar's strong ground game will probably cost Anderson his seat this election.

Representative in Congress, First District

Walt Minnick (D) receives our strong endorsement for this seat. Rep. Bill Sali has at times appeared to be incompetent and/or misguided. His campaign is disorganized and he has more diehard Republicans abandoning the GOP in this race than we have ever seen. It's time for a change in this seat.

United States Senator

Lt. Gov. Jim Risch (R) has done a lot to make his race against Larry LaRocco closer than it should be. Most of his TV ads look like boilerplate GOP, liberal bashing, tax and spending, etc. pap that hurts the whole process.

He is better than his advertising.

Risch earned his stripes, and our endorsement, by being an effective governor as well as being an effective leader in Idaho's Senate.

His no-nonsense approach to government is sorely needed in Washington, DC. He will help remove the embarrassment left in that office by Sen. Larry Craig. His lack of skeletons and his leadership separate him from LaRocco.

If you would like to comment on these endorsements, log onto bonnercountydailybee.com and find this editorial. You can include your comments at the bottom of this endorsement.

We will not run any political comments in Tuesday's Bee. Please vote.