Few uncontested races in 2010

SANDPOINT — All but one of the Bonner County offices up for election this year have some form of contest, according to Bonner County Clerk’s Office records.

There are also two contested primary races for state Senate seats, Idaho Secretary of State records indicate.

The deadline for candidates to declare their intentions and secure a spot on 2010 election ballots was Friday.

The District 2 and 3 seats on the county commission each have three-way races for the Republican nomination in the May 25 primary and Democrat challenges in the Nov. 2 general election.

Former county Commissioner Gene Brown of Samuels and Clark Fork Councilman Russ Schenck are challenging incumbent Commissioner Lewis Rich for the District 3 GOP nomination. Mel Davis, a Democrat from Gold Creek, is running unopposed for her party’s nod in the primary.

In District 2, incumbent Joe Young will compete with Priest Lake Search & Rescue Commander Mike Nielsen and perennial commission candidate Patty Douglas Palmer, who ran as a Democrat in 2008 but is now running as a Republican. Former Commissioner Brian Orr, a Democrat who lost his seat to Young in a close 2004 race, is also in the hunt again.

Incumbent Clerk Marie Scott, a Democrat, is currently unchallenged in the primary, but will face former Commissioner Bud Mueller, a Republican, in the general.

The races for assessor and treasurer could be decided in the primary, as both Republican incumbents now have challengers from their own party.

Christine “Tina” Harvey, a former county appraiser from Sagle, is seeking the GOP nomination for assessor, a post currently held by Jerry Clemons of Hope. Another Sagle Republican, John Maras, will compete with incumbent Treasurer Cheryl Piehl of Sandpoint for the GOP nomination.

Incumbent Coroner Kathryn “Kitt” Rose is the only county office candidate who has neither a primary nor a general election opponent.

Five 1st District Court judges, including Steve Verby of Sandpoint, are unopposed in their bids to retain their seats on the bench, Idaho Secretary of State records indicate. The other judges include Fred M. Gibler, Lansing L. Haynes, John Patrick Luster and John T. Mitchell.

A three-way race for the Republican nomination has formed for the District 2 state Senate seat. Incumbent Sen. Joyce Broadsword of Sagle will face Dennis Engelhardt, also of Sagle, and James Stivers of DeSmet in the primary.

The stage is set for a head-to-head primary GOP contest between incumbent District 1 Sen. Shawn Keough of Sandpoint and Steve Tanner of Bonners Ferry.

Incumbent Republican District 1 Reps. Eric Anderson and George Eskridge are unopposed for their respective A and B positions in the House.

No Democrat candidates were fielded in any of the District 1 legislative races.

Write-in candidates for the primary election have until May 11 to declare their intentions. Write-ins in the general election have until Oct. 19 formalize their candidacy, according to the secretary of state.

The most crowded races Bonner County voters will see on their ballots involve state and federal offices.

Six Republicans are vying for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. They include Walt Bayes of Wilder, incumbent Butch Otter of Star, Ron “Pete” Peterson of Boise, Rex Rammell of Idaho Falls, Sharon Margaret Ullman of Boise and Tamara Wells of Post Falls.

Two Democrats — Keith Allred of Eagle and Lee Chaney Sr. of Preston — are seeking their party’s nomination for governor.

The winners of those two primary contests will face Independents Jana Kemp of Boise and Pro-Life of Letha in the general. The lone Libertarian candidate in the race for governor is Ted Dunlap of Kuna.

Joshua Blessinger of Boise, incumbent Brad Little of Emmett and Steven Dana Pankey of Shoshone are seeking the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor.

Eldon Wallace of Boise is a shoo-in for the Democrat nomination for lieutenant governor. Paul Venable of Parma is a Constitution candidate in that race.

Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Ben Ysursa of Boise is unopposed in the primary, as is Democrat Mack Sermon of Caldwell.

Todd Hatfield of McCall and Donna Jones of Payette are seeking the Republican nomination for state controller. Democrat Bruce Robinett of Boise is unopposed in the primary.

Treasurer Ron Crane and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, both incumbent Republicans, are unopposed in both elections.

Incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna, a Republican, is unopposed in the primary. He will face Democrat Stan Olson of Boise in the general.

Jim Jones is seeking re-election as Supreme Court Justice, while John Bradbury is running to unseat Roger Burdick. Karen Lansing is unopposed in her bid to remain an Idaho Court of Appeals judge.

Republican Mike Crapo, incumbent U.S. senator, is being challenged in the primary by Claude “Skip” Davis III of Weiser. William Bryk of Brooklyn, N.Y., and P. Tom Sullivan of Tetonia are running for the Democrat nomination. Randy Lynn Bergquist of Weiser is representing the Constitution party in the general.

Democrat Walt Minnick, incumbent District 1 U.S. representative, is a shoo-in in the primary, while there’s a five-way race brewing for the GOP nomination. Harley D. Brown of Idaho City, Michael L. Chadwick of Post Falls, Raul Labrador of Eagle, Allan Salzberg of Boise and Vaughn Ward of Eagle are in that race.

Dave Olson of St. Maries and Mike Washburn of Boise are running for Minnick’s spot as an Independent and Libertarian, respectively.

In the race for District 2 U.S. representative, Katherine Burton of Boise, M.C. Chick Heileson and Russell Matthews, both of Idaho Falls, and incumbent Mike Simpson of Boise are seeking the Republican nomination. Democrat Mike Crawford of Mountain Home is uncontested in the primary and Independent Brian Schad of Idaho Falls will appear on the general election ballot.