Open Primary Initiative would benefit all Idahoans

I appreciate the front-page article on the Open Primary Initiative in a recent Daily Bee. However, I am confused and disappointed about the “conversation” that was part of the headline. A conversation usually includes more than one voice. Approximately 80% of the article came from the biased perspective of Scott Herndon.

Why wasn’t there any real factual information from Sagle resident Luke Mayville, who knows firsthand the legalities and tremendous advantages of the Open Primary Initiative? Mr. Mayville can explain why Scott Herndon’s comments are misleading and ignorant.

Scott Herndon knows he is an extremist and that his campaign strategy is dishonest and abhorrent to the majority of North Idaho citizens. Herndon knows very well that the Idaho Attorney General and the Idaho Supreme Court have reviewed the Open Primary Initiative and authorized its placement on the general election ballot for November 2024, provided the signature requirements are met. 

Herndon knows the Open Primary Initiative meets every Idaho Constitution requirement. Scott Herndon also knows his extremist agenda will be seriously threatened when everyone has the right to vote. Herndon desperately throws up deceitful smoke screens and confusion. 

Herndon wants to continue working with the extremists of the Idaho Freedom Foundation as they did in their attempts to destroy the public schools in Priest River, destroy the public library in Bonners Ferry, destroy every woman’s right to healthcare, destroy Idaho public lands, destroy North Idaho College, and destroy the values that make Idaho the wonderful place it is.

I would appreciate the Daily Bee getting the real factual information from Luke Mayville, who is an expert on every aspect of the Open Primary Initiative.

STEVE JOHNSON

Sagle

Editor's note: A story on the initiative and local efforts to gather signatures was published in the Daily Bee on Sept. 26.