Idaho Gov. 2006 lining up
While not being able to even get a name on the ballot for the 2004 US Senate race, the Idaho Democratic party seems to already have two candidates ready to go for the 2006 race for Governor.
Two years ago Jerry Brady lost the same race with only 42 percent of the vote, which isn't going to stop him from running again in 2006. Jerry is a former newspaper publisher, his grandfather was governor almost a hundred years ago, he is pals with Howard Dean, was in the Peace Corps and was an aide to Senator Frank Church back in the day. Not all of those things will help him.
The other candidate Senate Minority Leader Clint Stennett.
The Idaho Democratic party is already making a bold move by coming out against campaigns:
Kempthorne ignited early interest in the race when he announced during his January State of the State speech he would not seek a third term. Kent Kunz, Republican state committeeman from Bannock County and a Kempthorne liaison to the Legislature, said polls show the governor would have been the heavy favorite.With all but one of the prospective candidates currently holding office, Democratic leaders are taking the tack that Otter's early declaration will cause candidates to spend time politicking when they should be working for constituents.
"This is the first time I've ever seen this two years ahead of the fact. Maybe their first priority ought to be representing the people who elected them," said former Congressman Richard Stallings, a Pocatello city councilman and the Democratic party's new state chairman. "It's way early. I think people are going to get very tired of this before it's over."
Give our recent track record, I think we need all the time we can get.
Emmett O'Connell | March 28, 2005 | Comment on This Post (2 so far) |
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Comments
Stennett hasn't officially announced his candidacy yet -- he's still testing the water.
One thing both Stennett and Brady have in common is their media ownership; Brady owns KIFI-TV and the Post-Register, and Stennett owns (or owned, not sure) radio stations. Both have plenty of personal finance to kick-start a campaign, and are pro-business and corporate-savvy.
Beside Brady and (possibly) Stennett, there may be another. This person is someone many people have said they would like to see run and who would have a strong, active base with an important stake in the outcome. This person doesn't have the personal finances of Brady or Stennett, but that base could make a difference. The decisions this potential governor candidate makes in the near future could also affect at least one other state race.
Sorry to be so vague, but that's the best I can give you for now.
Posted by: Serephin | Mar 28, 2005 6:33:34 PM
Jerry Brady and I have attended the same church in Idaho Falls for twenty years. I know him to be a great democratic leader and a man of conviction who always endeavors toward the greater good. Now I am a citizen of much friendlier Oregon, and I hope he will garner all the necessary votes to elect him as governor of Idaho. Idaho needs Jerry Brady!!! I will definitely be contributing to his campaign, and wish him the best!
Posted by: Patricia JB Gabriel | Mar 29, 2005 10:14:00 AM
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(and yes, we know that sometimes they're very, very wrong. Other times, they're right on.)
