Election is a tale of two (Republican) parties

Each election cycle brings its own unique questions with the answers not to be discovered for many months or even years.

What is a campaign promise worth?

How much weight do you give to a candidate’s past performance … or a rumor … or alliances?

In a “normal” election, these would all be matters a thoughtful voter might consider. The 2012 primary election in Bonner County, however, is anything but normal. For the Republicans, it is a tale of two parties.

Consider:

• For the first time in history, the Republican party closed its primary. A vast majority of the GOP faithful hate the idea. So why would the dominant political party in Idaho want to suppress voter turnout unless something else is afoot?

• There is no option to vote for president on the primary ballot.

• Redistricting has left many voters confused about names on their ballot they don’t recognize. Quick, who do you like between Ed Galloway from Lenore, Shannon McMillan from Kellogg or Rex Rammell from Kooskia for your District 7 representative?

• Avista doesn’t like George Eskridge and Shawn Keough all of the sudden and have spent a lot of money with their unproven opponents to unseat them.

• Several House leaders and fellow legislators have also targeted Eskridge and Keough by funding their opponents. A case of strange bedfellows, indeed.

• Cornel Rasor and Joyce Broadsword are facing each other twice on the ballot — for county commissioner and Republican precinct chairman. This race is the epitome of the two Republican parties facing off.

With so much on the line, two factions of the GOP have turned on each other in an epic battle. Normally, non-Republicans would enjoy the watching the far-right of the GOP try to exterminate the more moderate office holders in the GOP.

This year, the stakes are too high.

This is an endorsement about the importance of casting a ballot. With the voter turnout this election projected to be in the high 20 percentage points, it is easy to see that a fringe group might slide in an knock out some incumbents especially in the state House and Senate races. The problem for the GOP is that the Democrats have people running in those seats and the GOP risks getting thrown out of office all together in November when the moderate Republicans and the Democrats would surely coalesce.

The following are our endorsements in the contested races on Tuesday’s ballot. We based our decisions not on who we think will win, but on who we hope will best represent us. We would be remiss if we didn’t applaud the courage of everyone who stepped up to put his or her name on a ballot.

Daily Bee endorsements 2012

With only one contested race on the Democratic primary ballot, we endorse the idea that unless you bleed blue-state blood and by voting Republican on Tuesday will cause you to die on the spot or be disinherited, you should really consider picking up a Republican ballot. It’s easy. Just show up at the polls with enough time to sign an extra sheet of paper. The lines won’t be long — trust us. That’s it — and you can de-Republican yourself as early as Wednesday at the county clerk’s office. But, you might consider hanging out on the Republican side of the street for a while. They throw better parties than the Dems and there are definitely more of them in these parts. You could also have a front-row seat at the GOP Central Committee meetings. They are a hoot!

If you insist on voting Democrat, political newcomer Jimmy Farris is gaining momentum in the First District representative congressional race. That’s it on the entire ballot for a contested race. Did we mention all of the action is on the GOP ballot?

Congress First District

First-termer Raul Labrador deserves your vote in the primary. He has proven to accurately represent his constituency and has surprised many folks who thought he might be a weak legislator.

Senator, District 1 — Sen. Shawn Keough

You know Shawn Keough is doing something right when groups like Idaho Chooses Life challenges her family values. These mean-spirited and inaccurate mailers and ads by this PAC proves to us that we want someone representing the majority of Idaho citizens. Keough has served as our senator for eight terms and could have the most seniority in the Idaho Senate next year.

Sen. Keough keeps an open line of communications with all constituents. She has also learned the fine art of negotiating for what is right after weighing all sides. Her vice chairmanship of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee puts her in a key position to continue to find ways to balance the state budget while funding the necessary programs.

Danielle Ahrens would be a good foot soldier for the GOP as it continues its march more to the right. In our minds, this will be the race that will show how much influence the closed primaries will have because Keough has won handily in the past. One concern we have is that in Ahrens’ questionnaire she spent a lot of space on discussing national politics—- not Idaho politics. She has the moxie to someday represent this area but one would hope she might spend some time learning about all the issues instead of repeating the tea party talking points.

Representative, District 1A — Rep. Eric Anderson

Rep. Anderson is a fighter. Last year, he had the audacity to call out fellow representative, Phil Hart. Hart, if you will recall, wrote a book about how to get away without paying federal taxes and tried to get away with it. Anderson broke ranks with many of the GOP and asked Hart to explain himself. As a result, Anderson fell out of favor with the House leadership and was stripped of all committee assignments. While Hart has become a poster child for some members of the GOP, Anderson dug in to push ethics reform.

We endorse Rep. Anderson for several reasons not least of which because he stands up for what he believes. He has a reputation in Boise for finding funding to fight invasive species is legendary. Pend Oreille and Priest lakes are safer because of Anderson. We need Anderson back in Boise as a voice of reason in what will be a new-look legislature.

What you see is what you get with Donna Capurso. She has made a name for herself in Boundary County as a person who believes in limited government. She led a massive change in leadership in Republican Central Committee and is the leader of the tea party. She says she is not a “political chameleon” and that is an understatement. Even though Idaho is technically a one-party state, we hope our elected representatives would have the ability to listen to all sides of a discussion. We don’t need chameleons in Boise — but we do need independent thinkers.

Louis Kins is a member of the tea party and needs some political experience in order to be a viable candidate.

Representative, District 1B — Rep. George Eskridge

Rep. Eskridge is the most vulnerable of the Keough, Anderson, Eskridge “vote the team” incumbents this year. His opponent, Pam Stout, is really one of the founders of the tea party in this region. There are many differences in these two candidates — including Eskridge’s opposition to the Rock Creek Mine to Stout’s belief that government should have very limited influence on our lives. The state and federal governments have to be in our lives — just to what extent is the question of the election.

We endorse Eskridge because we think Idaho’s best years are ahead of us and we need leaders who can think for themselves. He has proven to be a capable leader — one who isn’t afraid to question party leadership to get things done. He will focus on the economy and bringing jobs back to Idaho.

We are worried the Idaho Freedom Foundation and the other folks who have funded Stout’s campaign see her as a way to push their narrow agenda. Stout isn’t a novice but we are afraid she might be beholden to Tea Party politics instead of focusing on the important matters of the day.

Bonner County Commission, District 1 — Joyce Broadsword

Much has been said of the dysfunction on the county level and inability to work together so there’s little need to go much further. What we can’t have is more of the same.

While we admire Cornel Rasor’s commitment to the county, we need officials willing and able to work for and represent everyone, not just a segment. That’s why we are endorsing Joyce Broadsword. She has proven her ability to listen and get things done — all the while exhibiting common sense and an ability to work well with others.

Bonner County Commission, District 3 — Cary Kelly

In football, it seems like the one retaliating is the one who draws the flag when it may be more appropriate for both players to be sent to the bench. That’s the position we find ourselves in right now with the county commission seat in District 3. There’s been too much drama, too much history and too much tension that a fresh voice is needed.

There no denying that Lewie Rich has served the community in a variety of ways, from search and rescue efforts to the Northside Fire District. However, Cary Kelly has served as well — from the U.S. Marine Corps to supervising the county’s Marine Division, helping transform it while earning everyone’s respect. That’s why we are endorsing Kelly — we need someone with the skills to work with all sides to find common sense solutions.

Bonner County Sheriff — Daryl Wheeler

Of the two serious candidates for the sheriff’s position, our nod goes to Daryl Wheeler. While Tim Fry is an outstanding officer and has much to offer, we need someone with a little more experience in the office. Wheeler holds extensive certification from the Idaho Peace Officer Standards & Training academy and favors common sense solutions while working to ensure deputies are fairly paid, so that we no longer serve as the training ground for larger departments elsewhere in the region.