Why You Should Vote

WHY YOU SHOULDWHY YOU SHOULD

In Whitman & Latah Counties

Voting times & locations, plus the scoop on: 3 congressional races, 6 state races, 5 state ballot issues, 3 legislative races, 4 county races & 3 county ballot issues

2 | Friday, October 17, 2014 | Moscow-PullMan Daily news Why You Should Vote

GovernorBalukoff vs. Otter | 5

WASHINGTON Initiatives

Measures on guns, class sizes | 16

Attorney General & Lt. GovernorWasden vs. Bistline, Little vs. Marley | 6

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

TreasurerCrane vs. Silver | 7

U.S. House, 1st District

Ringo vs. Labrador | 4

Secretary of StateDenney vs. Woodings | 8

Only 60 percent of the vot-ing eligible population heads to the polls during presiden-tial election years, according to the Center for Voting and Democracy. This number drops to 40 percent during midterm elections, such as this year.

So where do we rank as Americans?

Some other countries are much further ahead when it comes to attracting and retain-ing voters.

n More than 90 percent: Australia, Belgium and Chile

n More than 80 percent: Austria, Sweden and Italy.

Why so low?

The California Voter Foundation recently released its statewide survey on the attitudes of infrequent voters. The numbers are indicative of the nation’s feelings toward voting, according to the CVF.

Here’s what they found:n Too busy: 28 percent of

infrequent voters and 23 per-cent of those unregistered to vote said their schedules and time allowances get in the way of them voting

n Contradiction? Even with busy schedules, 93 percent of infrequent voters agreed that voting is an important part of being a good citizen. Eighty-one percent of nonvoters agreed.

Who are the nonvoters?

The CVF survey also found

that nonvoters are dispropor-tionately young, single, less educated and more likely to be of an ethnic minority than infrequent and frequent voters.

Forty percent of nonvoters are under 30 years old, com-pared to 29 percent of infre-quent voters and 14 percent of frequent voters.

Other numbersn Infrequent voters are

much more likely to be mar-ried than nonvoters, with 50 percent of infrequent voters married compared to only 34 percent of nonvoters

n About 76 percent of non-voters have less than a college degree, compared to 61 percent of infrequent voters and 50 percent of frequent voters

n Among nonvoters, 54 per-cent are white or Caucasian compared to 60 percent of infrequent voters and 70 per-cent of frequent voters

Voter turnout in the U.S. fluctuates in national elections but has never been as strong as other well-established democ-racies.

Effect of young voters

Americans ages 18 to 29 have much at stake in all elections, yet only 23 per-cent will “definitely be vot-ing,” according to a survey by Harvard University’s Institute of Politics. These young vot-ers may have more at stake

than any population in how the political process plays out over the coming decades. A study last year by the Urban Institute noted that the gen-eration currently in and gradu-ating from college have accu-mulated 7 percent less wealth than their parents had at a comparable age.

It estimated that today’s young Americans, the best-educated generation in U.S. history, nonetheless will lose at least 3 percent in earnings over their lifetimes, according to the study.

Changing the apathy

The low perennial turnout of young voters is especially troubling to nonprofit leaders who are focused on building a more invested citizenry of educated voters — both young and old.

Rock the Vote, the 24-year-old get-out-the-vote organiza-tion started up by a music industry executive, has a goal this voting season to register 400,000 new voters under age 30 and to encourage youth to make their presence felt at the polls.

If enhancing their personal wealth and setting up their futures for financial success will ever be important to young people, now is the time. Young voters cannot afford to sit out yet another election while let-ting other people make politi-cal decisions for them.

Statistics: We can do betterWHY YOU SHOULD VOTE

Think back to the early American patriots who stood up for the right to vote and literally gave their lives for that freedom.

Those times may seem like they are in the distant past, but there are still many countries in the world where voting is a point of cultural

oppression.You owe it to those who

went before you to carry out your civic duty. The found-ing fathers believed that an informed electorate was nec-essary to maintain an effec-tive society.

In the beginning stages of voting, eligible voters were

expected to not only research issues and candidates, but also publicly speak about them at meetings. Voting was a privilege that citizens took very seriously, and vot-ing still is something that many members of our United States military have fought hard to protect.

WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE

History: People died to give you the right

SuperintendentJones vs. Ybarra | 9

State Representative, District 5, Positions A & B

Agidius vs. Jordan, Nilsson Troy vs. Osborn | 12

IDAHO U.S. Senator

Risch vs. Mitchell | 3

State Senator, District 5Schmidt vs. Carlson | 10

U.S. House, 5th DistrictMcMorris Rodgers vs. Pakootas | 18

Whitman County Assessor, Palouse Levies

Hawkes vs. Reynolds, City roads and pools | 19

Whitman County SheriffMyers vs. Assenberg | 20

Latah County CommissionersWalser vs. Obermayr, Lamar vs. Greene | 14

Moscow-PullMan Daily news | Friday, October 17, 2014 | 3Why You Should Vote

Risch seeks second term in Washington, D.C.

By Terri HarberDaily News staff writer

The incumbent for the Idaho U.S. Senate seat up for grabs in November, James Risch, has been described as one of the most conser-vative senators serving in Washington, D.C. He’s seek-ing a second term.

His Democratic opponent, Nels Mitchell, says his boy-hood hero was the late Idaho Sen. Frank Church.

Risch and Mitchell differ greatly about issues affecting Idahoans.

Mitchell said he would advocate for Idaho’s colleges and universities by doing his best to ensure they obtain needed grants and research opportunities. He also said he wants to make sure all of the state’s public education needs are fulfilled by having a teacher-in-residence on his staff to assist on education issues at the federal level.

Risch said schools must be managed and controlled at the local level and not by the federal government.

The senator supported school choice vouchers and the student loan bill in 2013 that reduced the interest rates.

In addition to improving education, Risch said creat-ing jobs is a top priority.

“Jobs are created by the private-sector and not by the government,” Risch said. “I believe that providing regu-latory relief and a lower tax rate are key to promoting job growth in the economy.”

Risch is the highest-rank-ing Republican on the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. After the release this summer of the committee’s report on “21st Century Barriers to Women’s Entrepreneurship,” Risch said he is willing to “continually examine any

barriers there are to loaning to women. Any gender bias has no place whatsoever in the lending process.”

But he strongly opposes legally requiring employers to hire women and minori-ties.

Mitchell said job creation is his No. 1 priority and that 18,000 Idaho jobs have been moved to China since 2001.

“American companies get a tax break when they ship jobs overseas,” he said. “Eliminate

that tax break and give them credit for bringing jobs home.”

Mitchell said Risch voted against the “Bring Jobs Home Act” that would have done just that, adding “this is the second time in the last three years Risch has helped block efforts to close this loophole.”

Mitchell also supports raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.

Mitchell criticized Risch for being one of the senators

“who shut down the govern-ment for 16 days,” character-izing that as “reckless and a danger to our country.”

Mitchell is against Idaho taking over federal lands but he said he would like to see the federal government man-age such sites “more respon-sibly.”

Mitchell said he is strongly opposed to the Upper Lochsa land exchange that would allow Western Pacific Timber Company to swap about 39,000 acres of logged private land for roughly 23,000 acres of Forest Service property. The parcels are located mostly in Idaho County, though pre-vious versions included sites in Latah, Bonner Kootenai and Clearwater counties for possible trade.

The legislative deal-mak-ing process that replaces the administrative one should be “more open and transparent,” Mitchell said.

The issue of Upper Lochsa was not included in Risch’s written answers. His chief of staff has said publicly that it isn’t a high priority project at this moment.

Risch says reducing the national debt is the most important issue facing fed-eral legislators in 2015. He would do this by “reducing the size of the $3.8 trillion per year government spend-ing and lowering taxes.”

Mitchell said the most important thing is overcom-ing the “dysfunction and grid-

lock, and shrill partisanship” in the Senate so that “we find solutions and not just blame everything on the president.”

Campaign finances

According to Opensecrets.org, as of June 30, Risch had raised, $2,457,173, spent $1,288,665 and had $1,165,062 in cash on hand. Top sectors from which dona-tions originated for Risch were finance-insurance-real estate, energy-natural resources, and single issue-ideology. Mitchell had raised $194,376, spent $120,847 and had $73,530 in cash on hand and was $5,000 in debt. Top sectors from which donations originated for Mitchell were the catch-all classification “other,” finance-insurance-real estate and lawyers-lob-byists.

NOTE: A request for a 30-minute telephone interview with Sen. James Risch was denied by his staff. Topics were addressed in writing and answers were emailed to the newspaper by his staff. Challenger Nels Mitchell answered questions by tele-phone. Additional informa-tion was obtained from can-didates’ websites.

Terri Harber can be reached at (208) 883-4631, or by email to [email protected].

Mitchell aims to unseat Risch in U.S. SenateJames e. Risch

n Age: 71n Affiliation: Republicann Occupation: U.S. senator, previously two terms as Ada County prosecuting attorney; 11 terms in the Idaho State Senate, terms as lieutenant governor and governor.n Education: Bachelor’s degree in forest management, University of Idaho; juris doctorate degree, University of Idaho

n Lives in: Boisen Family: Married, three sons and seven grandchildren

Nels mitchelln Age: 61n Affiliation: Democratn Occupation: Attorney and part-time teacher at the University of Idaho School of Lawn Education: Bachelor’s degree, Columbia University; juris doctorate, University of Idahon Lives in: Boisen Family: Married, two daughters

Dean Hare/Daily NewsU.S. Sen. James E. Risch, left, listens to a question during a Republican meeting on July 16, 2011, at the Best Western Plus University Inn in Moscow.

“I believe that

providing regulatory relief and a lower tax rate are key to

promoting job growth in the economy.”

James E. RischU.S. senator

“American companies

get a tax break when they ship jobs overseas. Eliminate that tax break and

give them credit for bringing jobs home.”

Nels MitchellCandidate for U.S. Senate



U.S. Congressional Rep. Raúl Labrador, R-Eagle, is seeking a third term in office, but Idaho State Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, intends to spoil the incumbent’s career plans.

Each candidate was asked what they thought the most important issue facing Congress would be during 2015. Those answers were politically telling.

Labrador said it was “our crushing national debt.”

The $17 trillion debt is “hurt-ing our economy and making it difficult for Idaho families to find good jobs. ... If we don’t change the way Washington spends money, we won’t be able to pay for basic govern-ment services,” Labrador said.

That would include reform-ing “our entitlement programs to ensure they are available to our citizens in the future,” he said. Current conditions are “unsustainable and threaten our security as a nation.”

Ringo said many policies put in place during the past 30 years have “resulted in middle class workers not getting a fair shake and we really need to address those.”

That would include imple-menting a living wage and stemming the torrent of wealth that has entered the hands of only the very rich, she said.

“The Supreme Court made it easier for the wealthy to buy elections. And those entities are able to buy the smoothest, best-financed lobbyists to per-petuate policies favorable to them,” Ringo said. “I’m looking to change those policies.”

She’s also running because she said Congress is overfilled with elected officials solely “focused on ideology or political ramifications of their choices.”

This mindset has resulted in inaction, Ringo said.

A living wage would help Americans — Idahoans par-ticularly — because the Gem State leads the nation in min-imum wage jobs. More than 25 percent of Idaho’s work-

force would see an upward bump as a result of raising the hourly minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10. Infrastructure investment also would help cre-ate jobs and benefit industry. It should be a budget priority, she said.

Ringo also said she would find ways to help small busi-nesses obtain more grants and work to eliminate regulatory red tape.

And, she said, “I’d fight to make the federal government buy American-made products.”

Labrador pointed to three areas of focus for economic development. Lowering the

national debt already has been noted. Reducing regulation also would help because “businesses are forced to spend a dispro-portionate amount of money on compliance rather than invest-ing in more employees.”

He’d also like to work on reforming the tax codes to tighten up loopholes that make it unfair and difficult to collect revenue from citizens, whether they are rich or poor, Labrador said.

“I will continue working to ensure that our regulatory structure protects consum-ers and the economy without being an overwhelming bur-

den on business and industry,” he said.

He cites as examples his bill to remove federal restrictions on geothermal energy explo-ration and efforts to advance the Grazing Improvement Act to help America’s agribusiness families — both of which aim to improve conditions for Idaho businesses.

Ringo, a retired teacher, said education plays a signifi-cant role in the economy as well, as it helps “young people develop their capabilities and achieve their potential.”

She intends to ensure fund-ing assistance for local school districts to hire and keep more teachers. A college or vocation-al education should be afford-able, and could be, she said, “with some simple reforms.” That would include reducing federal student loan interest rates, capping repayments to 10 percent of the former stu-dent’s income, and forgiving all federal loans for students who devote 10 years of their careers to public service, Ringo explained.

Labrador wants to see the states and local school systems have ultimate say in educa-tion. The federal government doesn’t have “a legitimate role,” he said.

He also is a proponent of charter schools.

Labrador said the federal government shouldn’t be estab-lishing standards in education, because, “I don’t want the gov-ernment experimenting with my children.”

Labrador has also expressed opposition to Common Core, an initiative to develop uni-form education standards for children in grades K-12 for mathematics, English and lit-erature.

Labrador, who worked as an immigration lawyer, said an immigration system revamped by Congress could greatly ben-efit the United States, even economically.

“I believe in a step-by-step approach that begins with securing the border, increas-ing interior enforcement and

creating a reliable worker veri-fication system,” he stated.

Ringo agrees there are issues to address, but the solu-tion should be “a comprehen-sive overhaul” of the immigra-tion system, not a “piecemeal” approach, which she said Labrador favors.

Not all of the necessary issues would be addressed because, at some point, “poli-tics would take over,” she said.

There are approximately 100,000 immigrants in Idaho alone. Only some of them are documented workers, who are taken advantage of by “unscru-pulous employers who pay them subpar wages,” she said.

“The system is absolutely broken and a lot of people have been left in an unfortunate sit-uation,” she said. Both houses “should hammer out a solu-tion that deals with all of the problems.”

Campaign finances

According to opensecrets.org, as of June 30, Labrador had raised $406,378, spent $240,328 and had $416,522 in cash on hand. The top sec-tors from where Labrador’s contributions originated from agribusiness, finance-insur-ance-real estate, and the catch-all classification of “miscella-neous business.” Shirley Ringo had raised $141,559, spent $127,682 and had $13,877 cash on hand. The top sectors from where Ringo’s contributions originated are the catch-all description of “other,” labor, and lawyers and lobbyists.

Note: A request for a 30-min-ute telephone interview with Rep. Raúl Labrador was denied by his staff. Topics were addressed in writing, and answers were emailed to the newspaper by his staff. Challenger Shirley Ringo answered questions by telephone. Additional information was obtained from candidates’ websites.


U.S. House, Idaho 1st District: Labrador vs. RingoRaúl labRadoR

n Age: 46n Affiliation: Republicann Occupation: U.S. congressmann Education: Juris doctorate degree, University of Washington, 1995; bachelor’s degree in Spanish literature, Brigham Young University, 1992n Lives in: Eaglen Family: Married, five children

ShiRley Ringon Age: 73n Affiliation: Democratn Occupation: Retired math teacher, 14 years in Idaho State Legislaturen Education: Bachelor’s degree in mathematics, Washington State University n Lives in: Moscown Family: Married, three children, one grandchild

File photo by Dean Hare/Daily NewsState Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, makes a point during a meeting at the 1912 Center on Jan. 26, 2013, in Moscow.

File photo by Dean Hare/Daily NewsU.S. Rep. Raúl Labrador, R-Idaho, talks with the Daily News editorial board on Aug. 18 at the Federal Building in Moscow.

Rep. Raúl Labrador seeks third term as Idaho State Rep. Shirley Ringo hopes to take his seat


By Lane OliverDaily News staff writer

The race for the governor’s spot in Idaho’s November elec-tion has centered on two main themes — education and the economy.

According to A.J. Balukoff, president of the Boise School Board and the Democrat chal-lenger to incumbent Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, one will lead to the other.

“You’ve got greater disparity now among our school districts and we’re not meeting the con-stitutional mandate,” Balukoff said in a Sept. 14 Idaho Statesman story. “Getting the schools on track and moving us off the bottom is going to be very important to economic development.”

Balukoff said fixing edu-cation, creating schools that produce graduates, raising the state’s minimum wage and working to bring good-paying jobs to the state will benefit all Idahoans, the Idaho State Journal reported Aug. 31.

Balukoff, an accountant and businessman who co-owns Boise’s Grove Hotel and the CenturyLink Arena, played a major role in the grassroots campaign to overturn the Students Come First laws put forth by Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna.

“Governor, under your watch we are second to last in the nation in school spending,” The Spokesman-Review report-ed Balukoff said Oct. 3 during the first gubernatorial debate.

Balukoff wants voters to know Otter allowed cuts in the education budget to grow dur-ing the recent recession — by a larger percentage than any other state, according to ESPN’s FiveThirtyEight blog — and that these cuts have made it hard for districts to keep good teachers, the Statesman reported Sept. 11.

Balukoff’s plan to fix the problems consists of “bring-ing together Idahoans from all sides of the issue to develop

a solution that meets the needs of all Idaho stu-dents and allow more local con-trol,” according to the Idaho Statesman on Sept. 11.

Otter, who is seeking his third term as governor, also said he believes e d u c a t i o n drives econom-ic prosperity. In 2012, after voters rejected the so-called Luna Laws,

which he supported, Otter cre-ated an education task force to come up with a five-year plan to address teacher compensa-tion, restore funding, expand broadband Internet access and explore the feasibility of a mastery-based system that enables students to achieve at

their own speed. In 2013, the Legislature approved Otter’s request for $35 million more in operational funding to help the needs of school districts.

Otter is hoping the recent upturn in the economic out-look will weigh in his favor. He points to Idaho’s recent job growth, which has climbed dur-ing the past 18 months.

“That didn’t happen by acci-dent,” Otter said Sept. 14 in the Statesman. “It happened because we did certain things.”

However, Idaho ranks as one of two states with the high-est number of minimum-wage workers, at $7.25 an hour. And the numbers don’t look much better for per-capita income or income not just from wages but from all sources. In 2006, when Otter first took office, Idaho’s per-capital income was 42nd in the nation; now, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Idaho ranks 49th.

Otter said his strategy for economic development is

an educated work force and keeping costs and taxes “pre-dictable and sustainable,” the Statesman reported Sept. 4.

“I see no reason to change that success formula,” he told the Statesman.

Balukoff said the Gem State’s political culture, con-sisting of 20 years of one-party rule, has harmed middle-class families and others struggling to get by. He said politicians tend to cater to wealthy politi-cal action committees.

“People want to see bal-ance. We have a strong field of Democrats and that illus-trates that people are ready for change,” Balukoff said Aug. 31 in the Idaho State Journal.

Medicaid expansion

The candidates differ on the issue of Medicaid expan-sion. Balukoff said caring for people without means costs Idahoans $80 million to $90 million a year, and that accept-

ing Medicaid for more people is an easy decision, the Daily News reported March 26. He said the savings could be used for roads, schools or even tax cuts, the Statesman reported Sept. 14.

Otter, on the other hand, even after the task force he appointed recommended doing so, has not supported Medicaid expansion.

Other candidates

Also running are Libertarian John T. Bujak, Constitutionalist Steve Pankey and indepen-dents Jill Humble and Marvin “Pro-Life” Richardson.

Campaign finances

Otter is reporting around $613,698 in campaign contribu-tions and $476,236 in expendi-tures. He has around $588,852 cash on hand.

Balukoff is reporting around $1,817,282 in contributions, including $1,590,350 in con-tributions from himself. He is reporting around $1,802,636 in expenditures and has $52,467 cash on hand.

Lane Oliver can be reached at (208) 883-4634, or by email to [email protected].

Economy and education in governor’s raceC.L. “ButCh” Otter n Age: 72n Affiliation: Republicann Occupation: Governorn Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science, College of Idahon Lives in: Boisen Family: Married, four children

A.J. BALukOffn Age: 68n Affiliation: Democratn Occupation: Accountant, businessmann Education: Brigham Young Universityn Lives in: Boisen Family: Married, eight children

Challenger Balukoff thinks people are ready for a change; incumbent Otter sees no reason to alter his formula

Associated PressRepublican incumbent C.L. “Butch” Otter, left, speaks with Democratic challenger A.J. Balukoff for a moment after the gubernatorial debate on Oct. 9 at Idaho State University.

Balukoff

Otter


By Lindsey Treffry Daily News staff writer

Democrat Bruce Bistline, while running against Lawrence Wasden for Idaho Attorney General, hasn’t actively campaigned against the four-term incumbent after Wasden handily defeat-ed GOP challenger C.T. “Chris” Troupis.

“I filed on the last day. I detest the fact that that kind of a decision, between Troupis and Wasden, could be made during the Republican primary with no alternative for the vot-ers who are not part of the closed Republican primary. And while I would probably never have bothered to run against Wasden, because my differences with him are fairly nominal, my differenc-es with Troupis are legion. I saw no alternative but to file to provide a choice in the general election, in the event that Troupis won the primary,” Bistline told Eye on Boise in May.

Bistline is still in the race, but he hasn’t actively cam-paigned since his statement to Eye on Boise. He has said he wants the office to improve its record of standing up for the rights of Idahoans.

Bistline is a Boise attor-ney who has served as a board member for Boise State’s Andrus Center for Public Policy.

Wasden, on the other hand, is a 24-year veteran of the Office of the Attorney General, having previously served as chief of staff to the attorney general, deputy chief of staff and as a dep-uty attorney general repre-senting the Idaho State Tax Commission. He also served as a deputy prosecuting

attorney in Canyon County and as prosecuting attorney for Owyhee County.

Wasden recently sued the state Land Board, on which he serves, contend-ing it wasn’t meeting con-stitutional requirements in its management of lakefront cottage sites. He also recent-ly requested a stay on same-sex marriage after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals lift-ed the marriage ban. But the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the appellate court’s decision, and Wasden dis-solved the stay days later,

despite Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s opposition.

The Idaho attorney gen-eral and his or her office provides legal representa-tion for the state, furnished to the state’s agencies, not the personal interest of indi-vidual citizens.

Campaign finance

Wasden is reporting around $10,796 in contri-butions, $9,342 in expendi-tures, nearly $13,500 in out-standing debt and more than $32,440 cash on hand.

While Bistline received contributions for the prima-ries, this period he received none. He filed no expendi-tures, but has $300 remain-ing cash on hand.

Lindsey Treffry can be reached at (208) 883-4640, or by email to [email protected].

Attorney general has contest, but not an active campaigner

Lawrence wasdenn Age: 56n Affiliation: Republicann Lives in: Nampan Family: Married, four children, seven

grandchildrenn Occupation: Four-term Idaho attorney generaln Education: Juris doctorate, University of Idaho; Bachelor’s degree in political science, Brigham Young Universityn Website: www.lawrencewasden.com

Bruce BistLinen Age: Unavailablen Affiliation: Democratn Work: Attorneyn Education: Unknownn Lives in:

Boisen Family: Unknownn Website: No website

Bruce Bistline steps back after challenger C.T. ‘Chris’ Troupis defeated by Lawrence Wasden in primaries

Geoff Crimmins/Daily NewsIdaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden talks Aug. 19 during an interview in Moscow.

By Lane OliverDaily News staff writer

The lieutenant governor presides over the state Senate when it is in session — voting only in the case of a tie — and fills in for the governor when he is out of the state.

Brad Little, a Republican who currently holds the seat, was appointed to the position in January 2009 by Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, when then-Lt. Gov. Jim Risch resigned to run for senator. Little was then elected in 2010. Prior to being lieutenant governor, he was majority caucus chair in the Idaho Senate.

Little is a third-generation rancher and businessman from Emmett. The Idaho Statesman reported May 2 that Little said he would like to be governor, and he would have run for that position if Otter had not decided to seek a third term.

“To be governor is my high-est aspiration,” Little said in the story. “I’d be way better at it now than I would have been six years ago.”

Little went on to say fair, pre-dictable and simple tax codes, along with developing the work-force and education at all lev-els, can help Idaho rise from the setbacks of the recession. That would help shield the state from cuts in federal spending expected to continue, he told the Statesman.

“The best cure is to grow the economy,” Little said in the story.

Bert Marley, Little’s Democrat challenger, said in an Idaho State Journal story Feb. 13 that “concern about the direction the state is head-ed led him to join the race.”

“We’re more concerned now with what looks good politi-cally than we are about what is good for the people of Idaho,” Marley said in the story about the current state leadership.

“We can turn state govern-ment around,” Marley went on to say, “but that turnaround has to start at the top — leadership that will put the needs of hard-working families and the middle class first, instead of rewarding good political connections.”

Marley and A.J. Balukoff, the Democratic candidate for governor, have been touring the state together since Marley won Balukoff’s endorsement. Both candidates said their campaign would “focus on reinvesting in education and establishing state leadership that operates on accountability and transpar-ency,” according to the Journal.

Other candidate

David Hartigan is the Constitution Party candidate.

Campaign finance

Little is reporting around $122,836 in contributions, $96,463 in expenditures and almost $237,000 cash on hand.

Marley is reporting around $14,762 in contributions, $16,274 in expenditures, $5,000 in outstanding debt and nearly $20,000 cash on hand.

Lane Oliver can be reached at (208) 883-4634, or by email to [email protected].

Little, Marley vie for lt. governor

Brad LittLen Age: 60n Affiliation: Republicann Lives in: Emmettn Family: Married, two children

n Occupation: Lieutenant governorn Education: University of Idaho

Bert MarLeyn Age: 66n Affiliation: Democratn Lives in: McGammonn Family: Married, two children

n Education: Bachelor’s degree, Idaho State University; Master’s degree, Utah State Universityn Occupation: Businessman, former senator

Incumbent says he’d like to top job some day


By Bill McKeeDaily News staff writer

Incumbent Ron Crane has certainly got the experience in Boise politics, with eight terms in the Idaho House of Representatives prior to becoming state treasurer, but Democrat challenger Deborah Silver likely knows a thing or two about numbers, as an owner and operator of a pri-vate CPA firm for nearly three decades.

Silver, 56, from Twin Falls, has been quite vocal in ques-tioning Crane’s ability to responsibly keep records, most recently citing reports issued earlier this year by an inde-pendent state audit that said Crane’s office was responsible for more than $10 million in losses of taxpayer money due to “inappropriately transferred investments” in 2009.

Crane, who has been head banker for the state, taking in and disbursing taxpayer funds and investing idle state and local money, since 1998, has indicated he believes the recent audits are “politically motivated.”

It started with a securities lending agreement signed by Crane’s office in 2000, accord-ing to a Feb. 23 article in the Idaho Statesman. Under the still-active agreement, a sub-sidiary of Key Bank loans out Idaho securities. The borrow-ers put up cash, while the bank, in return, uses that cash to purchase more securities.

The process has made Idaho money in the past, said Crane, who worked in two banks for about six years prior to his political career, but when the bottom fell out of the housing market during the recession, mortage-backed securities decreased sharply in value,

losing Idaho millions. The administration also apparent-ly overrode internal controls during the process in 2009 as they transferred funds from one securities pool to another.

Last month an audit by the state auditor’s office indicated Crane’s office has no significant deficiencies with accounting or administrative procedures, though results of another review into the 2009 transfers are still pending.

“The treasurer should be impeccably honest,” Silver said in an Oct. 7 Idaho Statesman article. “We’ve had some real problems with that.”

Such inquiries aren’t the first into the activities of Crane’s office.

Several other concerns have been raised with spending by the department under his ten-ure, including whether it was appropriate for Crane to be using a state credit card to purchase gas for his drive to and from his home in Canyon County, chartering limousines for Idaho’s delegation at an annual bond rating visit to New York City and the spend-ing of unbudgeted funds at the annual Smart Money, Smart Women conference.

Each of those issues, how-ever, has been “satisfactorily” resolved, and according to Crane, have been overblown

by both the media and his opponent.

“I didn’t think they were significant issues then, and I don’t think they’re significant issues now. We were able to respond to every one of them,” he told the Statesman.

He was also recently involved in a bit of confusion over a fake $10,000 award from the governor to a local student.

While in Moscow attending a press conference for the state’s higher education savings plan, IDeal, Crane showed confu-sion as he was introducing a student from the University of Idaho. In what was later con-strued to be a joke to cover his confusion, he announced she would be receiving a $10,000 scholarship award from Gov.

C.L. “Butch” Otter and the first lady, while there was, in fact, no such award.

The current state treasurer has, for the most part, been fairly nonvocal in his cam-paign, particularly when he bowed out of an Oct. 8 debate with Silver — which would have been his first in 16 years as state treasurer — due to a reported case of laryngitis. Another debate was scheduled for Oct. 16 on Idaho Public Television.

Crane, who holds only a two-year associates degree from Bible Missionary Institute, has instead been attempting to remind the public of his many years of experience managing the state’s $3 billion portfolio and of the other investments that he’s made for the state

that have paid off.“The (recent) audit findings

focused on $10 million in losses. They don’t give me any credit for the gains,” Crane said in the Oct. 7 Statesman article. Gains, when combined over his 16 years, that accrue to more than $1 billion, he said.

Silver — who, aside from being a certified public accoun-tant for more than 30 years, is a small business owner and taught accounting for five years at College of Southern Idaho — said the gains for which Crane is taking credit for can easily be accounted for through inflation and changes in federal interest rates. She maintains he has been, at best, negligent in his accounts management, which she said is what the post is really all about.

“The Idaho treasurer’s job is to safeguard the taxpayers’ money,” she said in a response to questions by KTVB. “Idahoans work too hard to have their tax dollars thrown away in risky investments and excesses of politicians.”

Information on campaign financing for each candidate was unavailable.

Bill McKee can be reached at (208) 883-4627, or by email to [email protected].

Incumbent experience versus CPA experience in race for Idaho treasurer

RON CRANEn Affiliation: Republicann Age: 65n Occupation: Owner, operator Crane Alarm Servicen Lives in: Nampa n Education: Associate degree, Bible Missionary Instituten Community involvement: member, Caldwell Chamber of Commerce; founding member, Lifeline Crisis Pregnancy Center; board of trustees, Nampa

Christian Schoolsn Previous elected office: 16 years in the Idaho House of Representatives prior to his election to the state treasurer post in 1998n Family: Married, six children, several grandchildrenn Website: http://www.cranefortreasurer.com/

DEBORAH SILVERn Affiliation: Democrat n Age: 56n Occupation: Owner, operator Hayes & Silver CPAs, former auditor and professor of accounting at College of Southern Idahon Lives in: Twin Fallsn Education: Bachelor’s degree, Boise State Universityn Community involvement: member/board of

directors, Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwestn Previous elected office: Eight years as Democratic county chair for Twin Falls n Family: Married, two grown children n Website: http://democracy.com/silverfortreasurer

“The treasurer

should be impeccably honest.”

Deborah SilverIdaho state treasurer

candidate

“The (recent) audit findings focused on $10 million in losses. They don’t give me credit for

the gains.”Rob Crane

Idaho state treasurer

Tenured state banker faces off against Twin Falls CPA, own record


By Bill McKeeDaily News staff writer

The two candidates vying for Idaho’s head of elections both promised to check their partisan politics at the door if elected, but voters will have to look at the future each has planned for the electoral pro-cess to decide if that’s really true.

Either candidate will be a fresh face in the office that oversees Idaho’s elections and business certifications. The position has been held by only two others for the past 40 years — Republican incumbent Ben Ysursa, who served three terms, and Pete Cenarrusa, also a Republican, who served seven.

Republican Lawerence Denney, with nine terms as a state representative and three as speaker of the House until he was ousted from the post by his party in 2012, lauded his political experi-ence during their first debate for Idaho secretary of state Oct. 6.

But it was that same experience that Democratic challenger Holli Woodings of Boise said was a problem, and a large part of why he no longer holds the speakership.

“He was ousted by his cau-cus when he was House speak-er. I believe that’s because he showed a lot of partisanship,” she said. “I think we both have history, but I think my history shows a lot more of working across the aisle.”

But the 27-year-old Woodings’ history — while it includes the founding of a public relations firm for energy, conservations and environmental interests and being named one of 2013’s Women of the Year by the Idaho Business Review — is still significantly shorter, having only begun her first term at the Capitol as a state representative in December of 2012.

Denney, a 66-year-old farmer who lives in his home-town of Midvale, said during the Oct. 6 debate that when he was replaced as speaker, the first person to stand up to recognize his service was the minority leader.

“I think I had a good rela-tionship with the minority party. I think there are very few places you can have par-tisanship in this office,” he said.

As head of elections, Denney said he believes it

would be best to do away with Idaho’s primary elections.

According to an Oct. 6 arti-cle in The Spokesman Review, Denney, who was a strong proponent of the closed pri-mary system when it was adopted in 2011, which has continued to see a low turnout of voters since, said primaries aren’t actually elections, but nominations by parties, and thus shouldn’t be under the purview of the state.

“There’s kind of a misno-mer that the primary is an

election. It’s not an election, it’s a nomination process,” he said during the debate. “In my opinion, it should not be run by the state gov-ernment, but by the parties themselves, because we are selecting our candidates.”

Woodings disagreed with that assessment, saying what her opponent wanted was to actually create “additional barriers between people and the ballot.”

Instead, Woodings said she wants to take the office into the 21st century and make access to voter infor-mation, such as lobbyist data and campaign expenditures, more easily accessible by updating Idaho’s Secretary of State website so it’s easier to navigate, according to an Oct. 7 story by The Associated Press.

“I want to update the office to a place where people can access the tremendous amount of information at that office and to continue the legacy of fairness,” said Woodings, who has demon-strated her intentions with the creation of IdaVotes, an app for smartphones and tables.

As potential members of the state land board, which the secretary of state holds a seat on, both candidates said they approve of the decision to auction off state-owned lots at Priest Lake and Payette Lake, according to a Sept. 28 article by the Idaho Statesman. The process has already netted the state more than an additional $32 mil-lion and is expected to raise about $200 million during the next several years.

According to votesmart.org, Denney has raised $42,265 in campaign funds, while Woodings has brought in $29,515 for her campaign.

Bill McKee can be reached at (208) 883-4627, or by email to [email protected].

The future of the electoral process in IdahoLawerence Denney

n Affiliation: Republican n Age: 66n Family: Married, four grown childrenn Lives in: Midvale

n Education: Bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics, University of Idahon Occupation: Farmern Community involvement: Deacon, Community Baptist Church; Adjutant, American Legion; member of Veterans of Foreign Wars; member, NRAn Previous elected office: 20 years of political experience, his first term in the Idaho House of Representatives 1991-92, then again from 1996-2012. He was elected Speaker of the House in 2006, and remained in the post until he was ousted by his party in 2012.n Website: http://denneyforidaho.com/

HoLLi wooDingsn Affiliation: Democratn Age: 35n Lives in: Boise n Family: Married, two children

n Education: Bachelor’s degree in English, Boise State University, 2007n Occupation: Founder of Woodings Group, an energy consulting firmn Community involvement: Vice president of her neighborhood association, co-founder of the Idaho Clean Energy Association, has served on the Idaho Council on Industryn Previous elected office: Idaho House of Representatives, 2012-presentn Website: http://www.woodingsforidaho.com/

Candidates for Idaho secretary of state talk partisanship, changes needed for elections

Idaho Education News/CourtesyState Reps. Lawerence Denney, center, and Holli Woodings chat Oct. 6 with moderator Jim Weatherby before the City Club of Boise forum.

“I think I had a good

relationship with the minority party. I think

there are very few places you can have partisanship in this

office.”Lawerence Denney

Idaho secretary of state candidate

“I want to update the

office to a place where people can access the tremendous amount

of information at that office and to continue the legacy of fairness.”

Holli WoodingsIdaho secretary of state candidate


By Lindsey TreffryDaily News staff writer

Jana Jones and Sherri Ybarra may stand on different ends of the political spectrum, but their educational ideals are mostly the same.

Jones and Ybarra, candi-dates for Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction, are look-ing to take the reins from Tom Luna, a two-term superinten-dent known for his Luna Laws, or Propositions 1-2-3, a failed education campaign.

Ybarra, a Republican, comes with experience as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and a program and curriculum director. Jones, running as a Democrat, found-ed and operated Progressive Day School in Idaho Falls, was asked by former Republican Superintendent Jerry Evans to join Idaho’s Department of Education in the Bureau of Special Education, and later led Gov. Cecil Andrus’ Office of Children.

Both candidates have simi-lar thoughts on Common Core, classroom technology, charter schools, early childhood educa-tion and education funding.

Ybarra told KTVB in Boise the most important issue facing education is children not being prepared for college, techni-cal training or the workforce when they graduate from high

school. Jones said it’s access to high-quality public education, regardless of where students live in the state.

During a late September candidate forum at the College of Idaho in Caldwell, both can-didates said the rush for teach-ers’ pay to be based on job performance should be slowed down. Jones said Idaho needs to attract good teachers first.

When it comes to technolo-gy, Jones said classroom access is important, but Ybarra said schools are already struggling and some have been forced to operate with four-day weeks because of lack of funding.

“We can’t put the cart before the horse,” Ybarra told the forum.

A debate in Twins Falls took the issues further.

Ybarra said her priority is to improve literacy proficien-cy, professional training and development, and to revamp the state’s accountability sys-tem for schools, Magic Valley’s Times-News reported. Jones said her priority is to raise teacher pay to attract more qualified teachers — and the Legislature needs to figure out how to pay for that.

During their campaigns, Ybarra was criticized after Idaho Education News found her website contained nearly the exact same language as Jones’. Jones had published her

site two months before Ybarra announced she was running, yet similar language appeared in a 46-word paragraph that only had the difference of eight words.

Ybarra said she was sur-prised to learn the two sites had the same language, and she has since removed the paragraph. She later removed identical lan-guage on where supporters can leave a comment.

In early August, Ybarra’s website erroneously cited her former GOP rival Randy

Jensen as a member of her campaign team, The Associated Press reported. Jensen was listed as one of five members of her campaign team, even though Jensen said he had never accepted an invitation to work with Ybarra and declined to endorse her.

Ybarra’s site had also incor-rectly listed House Majority Leader Mike Moyle of Star as a senator within the section of state lawmakers who have publicly endorsed her, the AP reported.

Campaign finance

Ybarra reported about $300 in contributions, $376 in expenditures and approxi-mately $294 cash on hand.

Jones received about $7,400 in contributions, reported about $4,570 in expenditures, has $500 in debt and $20,616 remaining cash on hand.

Lindsey Treffry can be reached at (208) 883-4640 or by email to [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @LindseyTreffry.

Jones, Ybarra campaign to take Luna’s seatJana Jones

n Age: 62n Affiliation: Democratn Occupation: Vice president of MAXIMUS, a national government consulting firm for K-12 education practicesn Education: Doctor of education in educational leadership, Idaho State University; bachelor’s and master’s degree in special education, Utah State Universityn Lives in: Idaho Fallsn Family: Married, three daughters, three grandchildrenn Website: janajonesforidaho.com

sherri Ybarran Age: Unknownn Affiliation: Republicann Occupation: Federal programs/curriculum director at Mountain Home School Districtn Education: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education; master’s degree in educational leadership; education specialist’s degree in educational leadership, with an emphasis in superintendency from the University of Idahon Lives in: Mountain Homen Family: Married, one sonn Website: ybarraforidaho.com

Associated Press

BOISE — Idaho voters return to the polls November. Here are things to watch as the General Election approaches:

What’s the point?

The majority of Idaho’s most fierce-ly contested races were determined in the GOP primary election. However, in Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s run for a third term, he’s facing serious opposition from Democrat A.J. Balukoff. Balukoff has criticized Otter on his education policy and has spent thousands on ads pinpoint-ing his failures. Another closely-watched

race is for superintendent of schools. With incumbent Tom Luna deciding against running for another term, politi-cal newcomer Sherri Ybarra is running a modest campaign as the Republican candidate. Her opponent, Jana Jones, barely lost in 2006.

Will Ybarra’s strategy work?

Ybarra has expanded her campaign footprint since winning the May GOP primary by spending less than $3,000 and rarely traveling outside her home in southwest Idaho. She’s reaching out to voters in a personal campaign, describing herself as a “non-politician.” Both sides

say her approach may not be enough to beat the recognition Jones has built up — even in a GOP-dominated state.

What about the tea party?

Tea party voters are still frustrated with incumbent Republicans, who they view as not being conservative enough. Now the question is whether they’ll show up in November to vote for the Republican candidates after being unhappy with the incumbents for so long.

Democratic comeback?

Idaho Democrats have lined up high-

quality candidates in several key races. However, the last time a Democrat held a statewide seat was in 2006, and the party hasn’t sent a candidate to Congress since 2008.

Will Fosbury flop?

Former Olympic champion Dick Fosbury, a Democrat, is challenging state GOP Rep. Steve Miller of Fairfield for his legislative district in central Idaho, which includes the posh resort cities of Sun Valley and Ketchum. Fosbury — known for revolutionizing the high jump — is now hoping to clear a different kind of bar in his district.

Five things to watch in Idaho during November elections


Candidates talk health care, taxes


Incumbent Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, is seeking his third term in the Idaho State Senate and to repre-sent District 5, encompass-ing Latah and Benewah counties. He will be facing John Carlson, a Republican from Moscow.

Medicaid expansion is a hot topic for both candi-dates.

Back in August, a com-mittee looked at various health care options for low-income adults and reported to Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter that Idaho should expand its Medicaid eligibility, the same recommendation it issued in 2012. An estimated 77,000 Idaho residents don’t qualify for Medicaid, living at the poverty level but not poor enough for coverage, or the Affordable Care Act tax credit.

Schmidt would like to see Idaho expand Medicaid to help deal with this gap affect-ing low-income residents. Counties also would benefit because they are responsible for indigent health care costs, he said. Latah County alone pays $800,000 to $900,000 each year for these residents.

But for Republican offi-cials worried about the more conservative wing of their party, “it’s going to take some courage to make this call,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt said the GOP can’t keep putting this off by saying there are problems that need to be remedied before taking action. If so, they should “fix it,” he said.

Carlson suggested Idaho legislators watch what other states are doing to offset this

coverage gap.“Other states are doing

innovative things in regards to privatizing, co-pays and different options,” he said. “I’m opposed to just automat-ically giving something for nothing. I think most people prefer to contribute to what they get.”

Both candidates are against allowing recreation marijuana use in Idaho.

Schmidt said he’s not ready to support legalization, but Carlson said he would be open to considering controlled medical use of cannabis.

“Permitting recreational use would be a big mistake and those states that have are going to find that out,” Carlson said.

He expects Moscow and other Idaho communities near the Washington border will be dealing with repercus-sions of the loosened mari-juana laws.

Limited, controlled allow-ance of hemp as an agricul-tural crop also might merit

consideration, Carlson said. Both candidates are inter-

ested in overhauling the state’s funding system for road and bridges. Idaho’s most recent fuel tax increase was in 1996. Vehicles have become more fuel efficient and many now run on alter-native fuels.

Schmidt sees the fuel tax as “too volatile” because pump prices aren’t stable. Higher prices lead to reduced vehi-cle usage and less money for such infrastructure needs.

It might require officials cobbling together an array of funding sources, but he pointed out that state GOP elected officials are leery about anything that might be construed as a tax increase, even if it’s long overdue and necessary for good stewardship.

“They aren’t even hav-ing the conversation yet,” he said.

Carlson said a user tax might be the least objec-tionable solution because it

would fund expenses related to something people use.

Setting up a dependable, adequate funding stream “has got to happen somewhere down the line,” he said.

“I’m a low-tax person, not no-tax,” Carlson added.

Campaign contributions

Information is from Idaho Secretary of State financial disclosure documents cover-ing the period of May 31 to Sept. 30, 2014:

n Dan Schmidt’s total campaign contributions were $16,984 and total expen-dutures were $6,244. His ending cash balance was $22,827.

n John Carlson’s total campaign contributions were $2,842 and total expenditures $2,485. His ending cash bal-ance was $2,467 and out-standing debt to date was $2,025.


Idaho State Senate battle pits Schmidt against Carlson

Dan SchmiDtn Age: 60n Affiliation: Democratn Occupation: District 5 senator, physician and former Latah County coronern Education: Medical degree, University of Washington School of Medicine; bachelor’s degrees in anthropology and human biology, Stanfordn Family: Married, four children

John carlSonn Age: 72n Affiliation: Republicann Occupation: Retired after more than 40 years as a rural sociologist in the Department of Agriculture Economics and Rural Sociology at the University of Idaho n Education: Bachelor’s degree in forest management, Washington State University; Master’s and Ph.D. in sociology

n Lives in: Moscown Family: Married, three children

Good? Great! An informed citizenry is one of the most critical elements to a democ-racy. Without it, our country could suffer social and financial injustices.

As Americans, we decide who is guiding the federal, state and local agenda — a monumental responsibility.

You can help strengthen the voice of America by first discov-ering who is running in races that affect you the greatest. After you register to vote, look in your sample ballot mailed from your county elections office. The Daily News, local TV, radio news and Internet searches are other sources that can help build a baseline of knowledge to guide your voting decisions.

Evaluate your candidates

As you read candidate materi-als you collect, try to figure out what you make of your prospec-tive vote-getter on both a per-sonal and political level.

What can you draw about the candidates’ stance on spe-cific issues?

To help keep notes and opin-ions straight, you can make your own candidate report card to help match up your personal feelings on how he or she matches with items that are important to you.

Consider others

Seek the opinions of oth-ers who have a stake in politi-cal campaigns. The League of Women Voters recommends you interview three people (not fami-ly members) such as a shopkeep-er, neighbor or politically active volunteer, to find out which can-didate they support and why. Learn what has shaped their political opinions.

It may be a certain policy that has helped them grow their business or organiza-tion. It could be a long-stand-ing loyalty to a certain party.

WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE

It makes you smart

“I’m a low-tax person,

not a no-tax.”John Carlson

Candidate for Idaho State Senate

“They aren’t even having

the conversation (about a fuel tax) yet.”

Dan SchmidtIdaho state senator


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By Samantha MalottDaily News staff writer

While both candidates for Idaho State Representative, Position A, agree education, the economy and the state’s infrastructure need improve-ment, their solutions are quite different.

The race between the Republican incumbent Cindy Agidius and Democrat Paulette Jordan is full of varying solu-tions to some of the state’s most pressing issues.

For both, one of the big-gest issues that needs to be addressed is Idaho’s lackluster education system.

Jordan said education needs to be the Legislature’s top pri-ority, and using the money available currently through the state’s rainy day fund is one way to do that. During the past session, the amount of the state’s revenue being put away into the rainy day fund was doubled from 5 percent to 10 percent, she said.

“It is nice to see that there are extra funds we can invest back into education,” Jordan said.

Jordan said she doesn’t think the rainy day fund should be completely dis-mantled, but she believes the amount of revenue being set aside should be decreased back down to 5 percent to protect Idaho in case of a disaster or another recession.

Agidius said the state already began taking a necessary step forward this year with return-ing money to education, but she doesn’t believe the economy is out of the woods yet.

“I support the rainy day fund because if we had not had that during the recession, the cuts to education would have been much more severe than they have been,” Agidius said. “We need to be careful, pru-dent and put money aside ... the Democrats want us to use that money right away.”

When it comes to the state’s economy, Agidius said hit-ting Idaho’s businesses with a

large minimum wage increase would be detrimental. Small increases over time would be a better route, she said.

“We just can’t afford to put any of our businesses at risk,” she said, adding Democrats want a huge increase right away.

Jordan said the minimum wage needs to keep up with the cost of living and inflation, and being the state with the highest number of minimum wage jobs is not something to be proud of.

Jordan said Agidius is con-tinually talking about corpo-rate tax cuts, but Jordan said that is not the best way to gen-erate money for Idaho because it hurts communities strug-gling to keep small businesses and schools afloat.

“Corporate tax cuts is obvi-ously not working. They’ve been doing it for 20-plus years,” she said. “We have to stop putting the extra burden on families who are working harder for less.”

Jordan said one of the best ways to generate revenue for the state is to invest in infra-structure, helping draw more people and businesses into Idaho.

Agidius said funding to improve infrastructure in northern Idaho will have to come from an increase in the gas taxes and fees for vehicle registrations.

“There probably needs to be a small gas increase,” she said. “I think it is going to be a dif-ficult push.”

Jordan said it is all about balancing the state’s check-book. She criticized Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter for wasting tax dollars on frivolous spending, such as paying legal fees to fight gay marriage in Idaho.

One thing both opponents can more closely agree on is that the state is not doing enough when it comes to men-tal health care.

“I don’t believe we are doing an adequate job,” Agidius said, adding she had a family member who was suffering from mental

health issues and there was no where to take him but jail.

One new facility has been built so far, with funding asked for by the governor, and two more are in the plans fol-lowing reviews of the newest, she said.

“We have to start talking about it and addressing it on a legislative level,” Jordan said. “I would propose to get that ball rolling again, create the discussions, develop the bill and push to get it passed. ... We can find the funding. We have to be creative and, of course, prioritize it.”

Campaign finance

Jordan reported about $4,198 in total contributions and about $589 in expendi-tures. Agidius reported total contributions of $2,450 and no reported expenditures.

Samantha Malott can be reached at (208) 883-4639, or by email to [email protected].

The race for state rep, a numbers game

Cindy Agidiusn Age: 54n Affiliation: Republicann Lives in: Moscown Family: Married, four children

n Education: University of Idaho

PAulette JordAnn Age: 34n Affiliation: Democratn Lives in: Plummern Family: Married, two sonsn Work:

Tribal Enrollment Directorn Education: University of Washington, 2003

Jordan and Agidius hope to balance the state budget

By Shanon QuinnDaily News staff writer

Gary Osborn and Caroline Nilsson Troy agree educa-tion is a pressing issue and acknowledge a need for change to Idaho’s current health care system, but they differ in plans to address the situation.

Osborn, a Democrat, and Nilsson Troy, a Republican, are vying for Idaho State Representative, Position B. Independent David Suswal will appear on the ballot, but he did not respond to requests by the Daily News.

“We all want all Idahoans to be healthy, and yet some of our neighbors and friends are fall-ing through the cracks under the current makeup of health care coverage. I will work with stakeholders, other legislative leaders, health care providers and community members to find thoughtful, Idaho-based solutions that address increas-ing health care costs,” Nilsson Troy said.

Osborn, on the other hand, said he would push for the expansion of Medicaid.

“I look at the Affordable Care Act and part of that act was the Medicaid expansion for anybody who made less that $12,000 a year, and it was a no-brainer,” he said. “I think everyone thought every state would take it, and then we didn’t take it.”

Osborn said the people stuck in the middle are now forced to rely on the indigent care system.

“Last year it was almost $900,000 in Latah County — what a huge part of the budget,” he said.

The candidates agree the Idaho-funded Community Crisis Centers are a step in the right direction in addressing mental health concerns.

“We don’t want to put folks struggling with mental health issues into jail when we can make treatments available to help them succeed,” Nilsson Troy said.

Osborn agreed but said Medicaid reform would add another dimension to care.

“We need Medicaid reform to keep them on their meds, and if they get off of their medi-cations, we need these regional centers to help them,” he said.

The two candidates agree addressing the state’s educa-tion system is a priority.

Nilsson Troy said providing a rich K-12 education prepares youth to succeed in a global workplace and post-secondary education and is increasingly important to individual suc-cess. She said she supports recommendations made by the Governor’s Task Force for Improving Education, which include raising teacher salaries and restructuring the career

Education, health care take the front seat for candidates

CAroline nilsson troy

n Age: 52n Affiliation: Republicann Lives in: Geneseen Family: Married, four daughters

n Occupation: President of Nilsson Advisory Group (nonprofit consulting)n Education: Bachelor’s degree in communications, University of Idaho; Leadership Idaho Agriculture graduate

gAry osbornn Age: 56n Affiliation: Democratn Lives in: Near Troyn Family: Married, three sonsn Work:

Farmern Education: Troy schools, University of Idaho

Nilsson Troy, Osborn agree on goals

See position B, Page 20


Rooted in the hard work of a fi ft h-generation Idaho farm family and shaped by a sprit of individual responsibility, Caroline raised support for the University of Idaho and built public-private partnerships for the betterment of our community and our state. Her experience and connections will bring home results for you!

A VOTE FOR:STRONGER EDUCATION

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIESRESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT

District 5 Seat B | Representing Benewah & Latah Counties

Paid for by Troy for Idaho - Steve Busch, Treasurer

IDAHO BORN. IDAHO EXPERIENCE. IDAHO RESULTS.

for Latah County Commissioner

ote tuesday, november 4Paid for by Lamar for LatahMargaret Dibble, Treasurer

PO Box 9868 / Moscow, ID 83843

For campaign updates, visit: tomlamar.org

facebook.com/tomlamar.org@LamarTom

“For more than 30 years

I have been getting my

hands dirty, alongside

other Latah County

residents, to improve

our land, our community

and our economy.” — Tom Lamar

Thanks for your vote!see website for voting locations

Tom Lamar demonstrates his support for Latah County agriculture by handing out 1,000 bags of Lamar Latah Lentil soup during the campaign.



The candidates for the District 1 seat of the Latah County Board of Commissioners have differ-ing opinions on what the most important issue facing the county is at this time.

Incumbent Richard Walser, a Republican, said although there are a number of issues facing the county that concern him as a citizen — such as the economy, drugs and problems with the jails — from a com-missioner’s point of view, the county is moving right along.

His challenger, Democrat Kurt Obermayr, though, said the biggest issue is economic development.

“Our old economic base of agriculture, forestry and the university will not provide the jobs for our future,” Obermayr said. “Ag and forestry are both so mechanized that they will never provide the jobs they used to, although they will always be a large contribu-tor to our economy. The uni-versity is struggling from the lack of state support. We have a poverty rate that is higher than the state average.”

Both candidates, though, agree the expansion of Idaho’s medicaid program would ben-efit the county and help when it comes to covering indigent health care expenses.

“Our county would be helped greatly if something were done to take the bur-den off our local people by someone with deeper pock-ets,” Walser said. “The county spends between $700,000 to $900,000 a year — for our part — for people without resourc-es. That’s quite a bit of money for the county. We have a $3.5 million budget, so that’s a big piece of it.”

Obermayr said the county is providing indigent medical care in the most inefficient

and expensive way. “I will work through the

Idaho Association of Counties to bring Medicaid reform and expansion before the Legislature, and, if necessary, move to a referendum to bring the issue before Idaho voters. Because our federal taxes are already paying for Medicaid expansion, I would use the county savings, $800,000 this year, for property tax relief, and the state savings should go to school funding,” Obermayr said.

Another issue in Latah County — and Idaho — is how to fund and manage public defenders.

Walser said the county is well-served by its public defenders, despite the fact that the American Civil Liberties Union has “cast a doubtful eye” on Latah County’s system.

“We examine credentials as commissioners, we don’t just pick names out of a hat. They know the case load from years gone past. We don’t provide an office or office space, but if they need to hire detectives or an expert witness, it doesn’t come out of their budget,” he said.

Obermayr, on the other hand, is an advocate for change.

“The public defender system should be state financed and operate under standards that meet constitutional require-ments. Without a state system of financing to spread the risk, counties are vulnerable to sev-eral complex trials in one year blowing a huge hole in their budget. The money counties currently spend on the system could be used to fund the state system with little if any state funds involved,” he said.

The candidates both said they recognize the need for change in the way mental health issues are addressed — mostly by the legal system.

Walser said the supports the idea of metal health facili-

ties in the area, regardless of the initial cost.

“I’m always aware we’re using taxpayer dollars and we have to be accountable for that,” be said, adding he believes the investment would pay off. “If we can help people stay out of trouble and give them support, that’s going to cost something initially, but in the long term, the taxpayers will be better off. We’ll all be better off.”

Obermayr agreed.“Our justice system and

jails are the biggest providers of mental health services in Idaho due to cuts in fund-ing by the Legislature,” he said, recommending that the Legislature restore funding and return mental health ser-vice to a service-based clinic model instead of spending the money on jails and courts.

“Medicaid expansion and reform will go a long way to providing the services our most vulnerable need,” he said.

Shanon Quinn can be reached at (208) 883-4636, or by email to [email protected].

Obermayr and Walser seek to upgrade medical plan

RichaRd WalseRn Age: 65n Affiliation: Republicann Lives in: Family farm between Potlatch and Violan Family:

Married, one daughtern Occupation: Latah County Commissionern Education: Bachelor of architecture degree, University of Idaho

KuRt ObeRmayRn Age: 61n Affiliation: Democratn Lives in: North of Moscown Family: Marriedn Work:

Self-employed n Education: Attended Idaho State University and the University of Idaho

Both say Medicaid expansion would save the county money


Both candidates for the District 2 seat on the Latah County Board of Commissioners have long histories of commu-nity involvement.

Tom Lamar has been on the Moscow City Council since 2007, while Shirley Greene was on the county commission dur-ing the early- to mid-1990s.

Lamar helped establish the Latah Trail Foundation, served on former Idaho Gov. Phil Batt’s carbon sequestration team and the Moscow Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee. Lamar is also a founding member of the Moscow Transportation Commission.

Greene has served on the public health board for 20 years and the National Association of Local Boards of Health, and was recently appointed to Moscow’s Farmers Market Commission.

She’s also active in the chamber of commerce, is the community service coordina-tor for Rotary and has been instrumental in organizing an array of different missions for the Moscow Church of the Nazarene. She spearheaded church efforts to help residents of the Syringa Mobile Home Park.

District 2 includes areas south Moscow and Genesee. The seat is being vacated by longtime Commissioner Tom Stroschein, a Democrat who opted not to run again.

Lamar, also Democrat, and Greene, a Republican, are both highly community-minded but hold differing views on a variety of issues pertinent to county residents.

Lamar hopes Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and Idaho leg-islators will give serious con-sideration to expansion of Medicaid during this upcoming legislative session. Idahoans best described as working poor aren’t able to qualify for health care coverage in the state, he explained.

The federal funding that would come with the expan-sion could remove the county’s funding burden because coun-ties have been responsible for indigent medical care costing $800,000 to $900,000 annu-ally.

“That’s one heart attack away from a million dollars,” he said.

Greene doesn’t want to expand Medicaid because she believes the federal fund-ing would disappear at some

Race to replace Stroschein

tOm lamaRn Age: 54n Affiliation: Democratn Lives in: Moscown Family: Three daughters, one

grandsonn Occupation: Executive director of Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute. Also taught conservation leadership for six years at the University of Idahon Education: Master’s degree in environmental science, Washington State University; Bachelor’s in biology and anthropology, University of Delaware

shiRley GReenen Age: 66n Affiliation: Republicann Lives in: Rural Latah Countyn Family: Married, two children, six

grandchildrenn Occupation: Retired businesswoman and community volunteern Education: Bachelor’s degree in public communication with a minor in public administration, University of Idaho

Lamar and Greene vie for seat at commissioner’s table

See Commissioner, Page 20


Dear Voters of Latah County, Thank you for the confidence a majority of you placed in me, by electing me as one of your county commissioners in November of 2012. That election was for a 2-year term, and that term is nearly up. The job of commissioner involves, to a large degree, good judgment in the budgeting and oversight of all county governmental offices. My goal has been, and continues to be, to reach decisions by taking the time to gather and review all information available before coming to any conclusions. I hope my experience and record of service in this office will help you in deciding your vote as to whether I continue as one of your county commissioners. It has truly been an honor and privilege to serve you. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,

Paid by the Committee to Elect Richard WalserDavid Strong, Treasurer

Experience:• Farmed wheat, barley and lentils, 1973-2004; also raised cattle and

hay, 1973-2014 on family farm, Walser Land & Livestock, Inc.• Vice-President of Walser Land & Livestock, Inc., 1973-2004• Latah County Grain Growers Board of Directors, (two years as Presi-

dent), 1981-1990• Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) County

Committee, 1981-1990• Palouse Grain Growers Board of Directors, 2001-2004• Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Committee, 2002-2005• Part-time hardware sales at Tri-State in Moscow, 2007-2012• President of Walser Land & Livestock, Inc. 2004 - present

Education:• Potlatch High School - 1967• Bachelor of Architecture Degree, University of Idaho - 1972

Personal:• Age - 65 • Married, one grown daughter • Years in area - 65

WALSER

(208) 892-4005 • [email protected]

Latah County CommissionerFOR RE-ELECTION

District 1 Republican

i t ll i

Kurt “Sam” Obermayr

for Latah County Commissioner—District 1, to keep Latah County a great place to live.

Vote

*Paid for by Kurt Obermayr. Jennifer Barrett Treasurer.

www.ObermayrForCommissioner.comFacebook/ObermayrforLatahCountyCommissioner

For State Representative, Seat 5A

PAULETTEJORDANFORIDAHO.COM


Stricter enforcement or less interference

By Samantha MalottDaily News staff writer

Washington voters will have to decide on two firearms initiatives in the upcoming election.

Both Initiatives 594 and 591 address rules for gun pur-chasing and ownership, but they ultimately are the com-plete opposite of one another.

One calls for more back-ground checks, while the other calls for less government interference, unless a national standard is created.

If approved, I-594 will require criminal and public safety background checks to be undertaken on all sales involving firearms, even those at guns shows and online. The initiative spells out cer-tain transfers that would be exempt from a background check, such as those involving antique guns, gifts between immediate family members, loans at authorized shooting ranges or on hunting grounds, or when someone’s life is in immediate danger, among others.

Zach Silk, campaign man-ager for Yes on I-594, said people buying a firearm from a private seller or at a gun show do not have to go through the same background checks as they would if purchasing from a licensed seller.

“We know that this is how criminals and other dangerous people buy guns,” Silk said.

This initiative, he said, would make it harder for those dangerous people to buy guns.

“We believe closing this background check loophole will save lives and reduce crimes,” Silk said.

Opponents to the bill stress that I-594 is falsely being sold as a means of keep-ing Washingtonians safer,

said Andrew Arulanandam, managing director of public affairs for the National Rifle Association.

“We share the same position as the Washington Association of Cops and Sheriffs ... that this is an 18-page document that makes criminals out of law abiding citizens, without making Washingtonians safer from criminals or from those who are dangerously mentally ill,” Arulanandam said.

He said the focus should be on making sure children are protected, criminals are being properly prosecuted, firearms are kept of the hands of dan-gerous people and that law enforcement has all the neces-sary tools and resources they need to do these things.

“This proposition does noth-ing of that sort,” he said.

While Arulanandam said their side is being exponen-tially outspent, he said the NRA is focused on getting the truth and facts to the people.

The other firearms initiative up for a vote in Washington, I-591, also concerns gun owner-ship rights in the state. The

bill is commonly referred to by its supporters as the “Protect Our Gun Rights Act.”

“It’s a basic bill to support gun rights in Washington state,” said Ryan Watson, cam-paign treasurer and volunteer for Vote Yes on I-591.

The bill as proposed would prohibit various government agencies from taking firearms from citizens without due pro-cess. It would also state that the government cannot require background checks unless a uniform national standard is required.

As far as the opponents to the bill, Watson said, they are not putting out any clear mes-sage as to why people should vote no.

“I haven’t heard much of an argument other than they say that it would stop background checks, but they never give an example,” he said. “They’re just sort of trying to be a little bit vague and are not being very specific.”

Samantha Malott can be reached at (208) 883-4639 or by email to [email protected].

Two firearms bills on the Washington state ballot

Associated PressFormer Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords pumps her fist Jan. 28 as she testifies before a Washington state House panel in Olympia. Giffords began a nine-state tour in Maine on Oct. 14 to advocate for tougher gun laws she says will help protect women and families.


Pullman High School Superintendent Paul Sturm says lowering class sizes — as Initiative 1351 would require — is a good idea, but should be done system-atically and phased in over time.

The measure, which will be turned over to vot-ers Nov. 4, would direct the Legislature to allocate fund-ing for smaller class sizes — 15-17 students per class-room — in grades K-12 in defined high-poverty schools and grades K-3 in all schools statewide.

The ballot summary states state revenues will not be affected, but spend-ing will increase by approxi-mately $4.7 billion through 2019 as a result of funding districts for class sizes, staff-ing levels and levy equaliza-tion payments.

“Unfortunately, there seems to be several factors that were not anticipated or addressed by I-1351,” Sturm said. “There is no funding accompanying the initiative for the additional support staff that would be required with more teachers — instructional specialists, principals/supervisors, cus-todians, food service, trans-portation and such.”

Funding for additional infrastructure needed also isn’t addressed, he said.

“The cost of new con-struction or purchase/lease of modular classroom would mostly fall on local taxpay-ers, with increases in taxes or reductions in other educa-tional services — it is doubt-ful that the Legislature will raise taxes to construct new schools since they have not shown the political will to raise taxes to meet the con-

stitutional requirement to fund basic education accord-ing to the McCleary deci-sion,” Sturm said.

Sturm said the district is seeking to acquire prop-erty to accommodate future building needs, but it has not identified any suitable at this time.

“We continue to antici-pate population growth in Pullman and therefore the need for additional class-room space will be accel-erated by three converging factors: population growth, I-1351 and all-day kinder-garten,” Sturm said.

All-day kindergarten will be a state requirement by 2018.

The Seattle Times weighed in on the issue, comment-ing that the plan of spend-ing billions without a fund-ing source was similar to Initiative 728 in 2000. Also a class size reducer, it was impossible to fund and was ultimately repealed, accord-ing to the Times’ editorial.


Voters to decide on smaller class sizesPullman High official says I-1351 requirements not easy to meet

“There is no funding accompanying the initiative for the

additional support staff that would be required with more

teachers.”Paul Sturm

Pullman High School superintendent


Please vote - your vote really does make a difference!

Vote for Shirley Greene

for Latah County Commissioner

District 2Republican

Paid for by Committee to Elect Greene Commissioner, L. Lucas Treasurer.

Proven Leadership and Experience hoo oa em e ea s an Chai man ea s

oi Conse ation oa Chai o u a i e e a tment mem e an i e Commissione

I aho tate Wate ua it oa ene ation a me

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Vote Nov. 4 for

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IDAHO House 5B

Paid for Gary Osborn for Idaho; BJ Swanson, Treasurer


By Anthony KuipersDaily News staff writer

Job creation is at the top of the priority list for the two 5th District Congressional candi-dates on the ballot this year.

Incumbent Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash) and Democrat challenger Joe Pakootas both say voters in eastern Washington are con-cerned about the economic sta-bility of the region.

“That seems to be what’s resonating throughout the whole district,” Pakootas said.

McMorris Rodgers said she wants to improve the economy so young people “don’t feel like they have to move away to find a good-paying job.”

Pakootas, who is the CEO of the Colville Tribal Federal Corporation, said he would like to spend federal dollars on funding jobs to repair east-ern Washington’s “crumbling infrastructure.” He said many roads and bridges have existed past their life expectancy.

This past year, McMorris Rodgers looked to hydropower to help create jobs in the area. In May, President Barack Obama signed a bill she sponsored intended to increase jobs by reducing regulations that limit small hydropower projects.

Additionally, both candi-dates are in favor of training more physicians to work in Washington, especially in the rural areas. They both support Washington State University’s plans to build a medical school in Spokane.

“As I travel around eastern Washington, the need is real,” said McMorris Rodgers, who co-chairs the Congressional Rural Health Care Coalition.

Pakootas said he believes the economy can be helped through

student loan reform that would allow students to refinance at a lower interest rate. He said nearly 15 percent of loans have been defaulted on.

McMorris Rodgers said she has worked to protect the fed-eral government’s low-interest Perkins loan and to set a cap on loan interest rates.

When it comes to their views on the economy and other issues, both candidates have been influenced by their past experiences.

Pakootas, who was born in Inchelium, Wash., said he grew up in poverty on the Colville Reservation. He said 1 in 6 eastern Washington residents live below the federal poverty level and 1 in 5 receive food stamps. The problem, he said, is getting worse.

“Our homeless shelters are starting to become saturated and bursting at the seams,” he said.

He has previously stated he wants to reduce tax breaks to the state’s wealthy to increase revenue.

As CEO, he said, he brought the Covill Tribal Federal Corporation out of millions of dollars in debt in four years, and now it is $2.3 million in the black.

McMorris Rodgers, who is running for her sixth term in Congress and is the fourth highest-ranking House Republican, grew up in Kettle Falls, Wash., as daughter of an orchard owner. She was the first in her family to graduate college and, in 1994, was elect-ed to the Washington House of Representatives.

McMorris Rodgers, wife of a Navy veteran and mother of a child with Down syndrome, co-chairs the Congressional Military Caucus and

Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus intended to educate Congress about issues facing

these two populations. Like all incumbents,

McMorris Rodgers faces the

challenge of trying to convince voters to reelect a member of an unpopular Congress. A Gallup Poll in early September showed Congress had a 14 per-cent approval rating.

McMorris Rodgers said vot-ers want to see greater biparti-san efforts in Congress, and she noted two bills she sponsored that drew Democratic support and were signed by Obama.

Pakootas said he under-stands the frustration aimed toward Congress and said vot-ers want to know their leaders are paying attention, which is what he intends to do.

“Their voice is not heard today” he said.

Between January and the end of September, McMorris Rodgers has received nearly $2.4 million in campaign con-tributions and has spent near-ly $2.1 million in campaign expenditures, according to Federal Election Commission data. Pakootas has received nearly $150,000 and spent $113,000 in the period.

For more information, visit fec.gov.

Anthony Kuipers can be reached at (208) 883-4630, or by email to [email protected].

Economy, job creation is focus of Congressional 5th District race

Joe Pakootasn Affiliation: Democratn Age: 57n Occupation: CEO, Colville Tribal Federal Corporationn Lives in: Incheliumn Years lived in area: 50n Education: Executive master’s of business administration, University of Washingtonn Community involvement: Coached and mentored

high school and grade school children for 35 yearsn Previous elected office: 16 years on the Colville tribal council including as chairmann Family status: Married, four children, six grandchildren n Website: PakootasforCongress.com

Cathy MCMorris rodgersn Affiliation: Republicann Age: 45 n Occupation: House of Representatives 5th District n Lives in: Spokanen Years lived in area: Nine n Education: Bachelor’s degree in pre-law, Pensacola Christian College; Executive master’s of business administration, University of Washingtonn Community involvement: Longtime Farm Bureau

membern Previous elected office: Washington House of Representatives from 1994-2004n Family status: Married, three children n Website: McMorris.house.gov

McMorris Rodgers seeks her sixth term against Democrat Pakootas

Associated PressRep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers speaks to her supporters Nov. 6, 2012, at a Spokane hotel.

Geoff Crimmins/Daily NewsJoe Pakootas speaks Sept. 24 at the Foley Institute at Washington State University.



Whoever wins the Whitman County Assessor’s race will face the pressing challenge of having to work with a shrunken staff.

Incumbent Joe Reynolds, seeking his sixth term as assessor, said he had 13 staff members when he first took office more than 20 years ago. Due to budget cuts, that number is down to five.

“We can’t go any smaller in the office,” he said.

With the county’s finan-cial problems, it is hard to imagine staff levels increas-ing anytime soon. So, in the meantime, Reynolds said, the Assessor’s Office needs to manage its resources care-fully.

To cut down on gasoline costs, for example, the office is no longer sending apprais-ers from one end of the coun-ty to the other in a day. Now, they’ll split up their visits to one area at a time.

He also wants to make his employees’ jobs easier by educating the public on tax-ing law, property values and what exemptions they may qualify for.

Reynolds said he speaks to the public “all the time” on this topic, including on trips to senior groups and retirement centers around the county. Reynolds said he makes several dozen of these trips each year, and it’s always a learning experience for the audience.

“It’s surprising how little some of the public knows about their own situation,” he said.

Jim Hawkes, Reynolds’ chief appraiser and challeng-er in the election, said he’d

like to put that information online.

To better prepare their short supply of employees, he wants to provide online training with information on tax assessments and exemp-tions. This would be avail-able for the public as well.

“My whole focus is to try to get as much data on the Internet as possible so peo-ple can access that,” he said.

Hawkes also wants to develop a manual detailing answers to the most com-monly asked questions by the public. The manual would be placed public libraries and City Halls.

“We get the same 50 ques-tions all the time,” he said.

When it comes to property values around the county, both Reynolds and Hawkes are cautiously optimistic about the future.

Reynolds believes the lin-gering effects of the recession are coming to an end.

“Now we’re back on the upswing,” he said. “Properties are selling again.”

Hawkes acknowledged the growth of Pullman, but he said other taxing districts in the county are still strug-gling finding tax revenue.

“I don‘t think this econo-my is out of the woods,” he said.

No matter what challeng-es are ahead, both candi-dates feel they are experi-enced enough for the task.

Reynolds said he still enjoys his job and believes he is the most qualified to do it.

“I feel I am the most quali-fied, partly because I’ve been doing the job for the last 20 years,” he said.

Hawkes said he ben-efits from being one of the

few staff members who has worked out in the field meet-ing with taxpayers on a face-to-face basis.

Reynolds’ tenure has not been without its rough patches. Reynolds had to appear in court this summer as a result of allegations from county property appraiser Brenda Arthur claiming Reynolds had harassed her

by making sexually-based comments, gestures and physical advances. Reynolds denied all of the accusations, and the district court jury in Spokane dismissed the alle-gations.


Whitman assessor must make do with what’s available

Jim Hawkesn Affiliation: Republican n Age: 59n Occupation: Whitman County chief appraiser n Lives in: Pullmann Education: Bachelor’s degree in communication and business, Washington State Universityn Community involvement: Past president of Community Living, a nonprofit that provides residential services for developmentally disabled

citizens around Washingtonn Family status: Single

Joe Reynoldsn Affiliation: Republicann Age: 65 n Occupation: Whitman County assessor n Lives in: Colfaxn Education: Studied accounting and psychology, WSU and Eastern Washington Universityn Community involvement: Past member of Kiwanis club, Junior Chamber of Commerce, County Board of Adjustments

n Family status: Married, one daughter, one grandson

Incumbent Joe Reynolds faces challenge from his chief appraiser, Jim Hawkes

Staff report

Palouse residents will vote on two annual tax levies to maintain city roads and the city pool this election.

On the ballot is a $44,000 excess property tax levy to fund street improvements and street oiling for 2015. This amount is the same as last year’s proposed levy. It equates to an estimated 76 cents per $1,000 in assessed taxable value, City Treasurer Joyce Beeson said.

Beeson said the levy is on the ballot every year and helps the city take on projects such as rebuilding streets. The city does not have a spe-cific project in mind at this point, but the money will help the city address street repairs as needed, Beeson said.

Also on the ballot is a $28,000 levy for operation and maintenance of the city’s public swimming pool. Like the street improvement levy, this is another regular ballot item for residents. It costs an estimated $.48 per $1,000 of assessed value. Beeson said the levy pays for necessities such as lifeguards and mak-ing sure the pool boiler is up to par.

In Colton, voters will decide on a $30,000 excess tax levy for general opera-tions and improvements for the city’s streets, water and sewer system.

This equates to $1.20 per $1,000 and is the same amount as last year’s levy, which passed. The money has been used for street and sidewalk repairs, as well as other city projects, including repainting a city water tank.

Colton, Palouse to decide on regular levies

“We can’t go

any smaller in the office.”

Joe ReynoldsWhitman County assessor

“Now we’re back on the

upswing. Properties are selling again.”

Jim HawkesWhitman County assessor

candidate


Commissionerfrom Page 14


Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers, who is being chal-lenged for office by first-time candidate and Colfax medi-cal marijuana advocate Adam Assenberg, is seeking his fourth term as county sheriff.

Myers, 44, has served 12 years as sheriff and is the lon-gest-tenured law enforcement head in the Quad Cities. He’s seen advancements in law enforcement technology and a move toward “intelligence-based policing,” but he said the fun-damentals of law enforcement should remain.

“The primary focus is main-taining the quality of life that we’ve come to enjoy and expect and relatively low crime rate that we have,” he said.

Myers’ goals include finding ways to expand and modernize the Whitman County Jail as more capacity is needed. He has asked for money to modify cells and add bunk space to accom-modate more inmates in April.

To alleviate overcrowding, more needs to be done, he said. He admits it won’t be easy to use the county’s limited budget.

“The demands have never been higher and the constraints have never been tighter finan-cially,” he said.

But it’s necessary to keep the jail in good shape for the next decade, Myers said.

“The more we can stay on top of it, the more we can control those costs,” he said.

He said his department will also continue to empha-

size curbing property and drug crimes, which are often related. They are two of the most com-mon crimes in the area, and ones that leave residents feel-ing unsafe and violated in their communities, he said.

As sheriff, he wants to con-tinue “making sure we send a message that this is still impor-tant to us,” he said.

Assenberg, 54, said residents have told him the department is not doing enough to stop prop-erty crime.

Assenberg said he wants the residents to speak for them-selves about issues, and as sher-iff, he plans to travel around the county holding public meetings so residents can discuss what problems they would like the department to address.

Assenberg is also concerned where taxpayer dollars are being spent. He wants to ensure open access to the department’s resources, so the public can see where money goes.

“I would see to it every dime the county spends is accounted for,” he said.

Particularly he wants to pub-licize the dollars being spent on drug raids, many of which are not conducted ethically, he said. Assenberg claims that law enforcement aggressively goes after growers and sellers to earn profits off the property they seize.

He labels this “policing for profit” and said he has been on the wrong end of such a raid.

In January, Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy dropped four felony charges related to Assenberg’s home-based medi-

cal marijuana dispensary, which was raided by the Quad Cities Drug Task Force in May 2011.

Now, Assenberg is seeking $3.5 million in damages from the raid with a civil lawsuit against the county, the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office and the Quad Cities Drug Task Force for allegedly violating his rights.

This case spurred Assenberg’s decision to run for sheriff so he can assure staff acts appropri-ately and dollars are not being wasted, he said.

Assenberg has previous experience in law enforcement. Assenberg said he served as a security guard near Los Angeles until a work-related injury ended his career in 1985. He retired, but is ready to put a

uniform on again.“I would like to put my life

on the line once more to protect the public of Whitman County,” he said.

Myers said he looks forward to maintaining an “excellent partnership” with other law enforcement agencies while con-tinuing to work with his “highly-trained and skilled” staff,

Most of the staff, he said, have around 15 years of experi-ence serving the county.

“I think that people of Whitman County can rest assured they have very excel-lent staff,” he said.


First-time candidate challenges Whitman County sheriff AdAm Assenberg

n Affiliation: Nonen Age: 54n Occupation: Retired, former security guard in Californian Lives in: Colfaxn Education: High school graduaten Community involvement: Advocate for the disabled, gun rights and medical marijuana rights. Supporter of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

n Previous elected office: nonen Family status: Married, one son, one daughtern Website: adam4sheriff.org

brett myersn Affiliation: Republicann Age: 44n Occupation: Whitman County sheriffn Lives in: Pullman n Education: Master’s degree in public administration, Andrew Jackson University; Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, Washington State Universityn Community involvement: Church, local events n Previous elected office: Whitman County sheriff

n Family status: Married, two daughtersn Website: myersforsheriff.com

Three-term sheriff, Myers, faces Colfax man, Assenberg

Position Bfrom Page 12

point.She also wants to ensure

that the Student Health Insurance Program remains in place so Latah County taxpayers aren’t responsible for the medical expenses of University of Idaho stu-dents. Some university sys-tems across the country have considered dropping similar plans because of an Affordable Care Act requirement allow-ing parents to include adult children on their family plans until they reach age 26.

Both candidates have keen interest in fostering county-wide economic development, and they each agree the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport’s improvement proj-ect merits county funding and involvement.

Greene and Lamar each mentioned the need for part-nership with area universities and other regional economic organizations to recruit and attract employers.

Greene would like to see the county provide a busi-ness friendly environment to attract companies that would pay “a living wage.” Lamar expressed concern about repeated state legisla-tive efforts to undermine local urban renewal operations.

The director of Moscow’s URA, who found employment elsewhere, “spent up to 25 percent of his time on leg-islative issues,” Lamar said. “That seems crazy because that’s how much more time he could have been spending on local needs.”

Both pointed out how important such efforts are to Latah County. The percent-age of poverty-striken resi-dents is higher than Idaho’s overall percentage.

Note: Shirley Greene sub-mitted written responses to a series of topics and was inter-viewed before and after the primary. Tom Lamar was interviewed over the phone. Online resources also were used to complete this article.


ladder so experienced teachers can earn more money.

“Over the past decade, the University of Idaho’s budget has been decimated and student enrollment has remained relatively flat. For both the region and the state, this has been an exercise in killing the goose that lays the golden egg,” she said.

Osborn said, having served on the Troy School Board for 10 years, he’s been in a lot of classrooms and has seen first hand the work teachers do.

“Our teachers do a wonderful job,” he said. “The new tiered certification is just another thing for teachers to worry about, and they have enough to worry about.”

That includes the fact that 95 out of 115 school districts in Idaho are currently forced to regularly pass supplemental levies to remain in operation.

“We need to do our duty at the state level

and fund these schools,” he said.

Campaign Contributions

Troy’s total campaign contributions were $13,180 and total expenditures were $10,716.

Osborn’s total campaign contributions were $6,124 and total expenditures were $6,904.


Documents

Why You Should Vote