[Vision2020] Local Dems out-raise GOP

[Tom Hansen]

>From today's (October 29, 2004) Spokesman Review.

 

For those of you that are convinced that the Idaho Democratic Party is
ineffective (Are you listening, Dale "Doug's Boy" Courtney).  For some
reason Idaho looks a little bluer this morning.

 

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Local Dems out-raise GOP 

Interest in presidential contest, Iraq war swells legislative war chests 

 

Erica Curless

Staff writer

October 29, 2004

 

This year North Idaho Democrats have something often missing in past
elections - money.

 

In Coeur d'Alene the Democratic candidates for the Idaho Legislature are
out-raising the Republicans. One of the largest war chests statewide is for
a Democrat in District 1, which stretches to the Canadian border. 

 

But it's still a guess whether the cash will help legislative candidates win
seats in Tuesday's election, sending more Democrats to balance the
Republican-dominated Legislature.

 

"It's not an organized effort," said Bill Kersting, Kootenai County
Democratic Central Committee chairman. "There's just so much interest in
this election that a great many people are getting involved."

 

And that means people are writing checks and volunteering their time to
stuff envelopes and knock on doors.

 

He said it's not the local legislative races that are getting people fired
up. Instead it's the contentious presidential campaign sparked by interest
in the Iraq invasion, Kersting said. 

 

Yet he acknowledges the national spotlight gives energy to local races.

 

The latest campaign finance report, which details all the money raised
through Oct. 25, shows that District 4 Democrat candidates have larger war
chests than their GOP challengers. Rep. George Sayler, D-Coeur d'Alene,
raised $24,364 compared to Republican candidate and political newcomer Dan
Yake, who has $19,660.

 

In the district's other House race, Democrat Mike Gridley has raised $37,025
compared to Republican Marge Chadderdon's $23,653.

 

Kootenai County Republican Central Committee Chairwoman Donna Montgomery
said she isn't aware of what the Democrats have been doing because she's too
busy trying to get Republicans elected.

 

"If the Democrats are as riled up as the Republicans about this campaign
then they probably do have more funds," Montgomery said.

 

The candidate who has raised the most of any legislative candidate in North
Idaho -$63,088 - is water resources scientist Steve Elgar, a Democrat
running for the Idaho House in District 1. If Elgar wins the open seat it
perhaps would mean Democrats could regain a foothold in a former area of
strength. Just a decade ago, the district was represented entirely by
Democrats in the state Legislature, and now is represented entirely by
Republicans.

 

Elgar's Republican challenger Eric Anderson has $26,214, while Constitution
Party candidate Frank Reichert raised only $838 by Oct. 10. Reichert hasn't
filed a more recent report.

 

In District 5, which covers Post Falls, the Republicans have the most money.
Even though the district boundaries have changed, it's been about a decade
since this area sent a Democrat to Boise.

 

Republican Bob Nonini is the top fund-raiser of all the Kootenai County
candidates with $48,598. Democrat challenger David Larsen has raised $22,291
while Constitution Party candidate Rose Johnson has $471.

 

Nonini said all the candidates are working hard because they know money
matters. And he said many candidates are putting their own personal wealth
into the race.

 

The former Republican Central Committee chairman gave $10,000 to his
campaign during the May primary and so far has repaid only $2,900. Larsen
loaned his campaign $2,000 Monday.

 

For the other House race, Republican Frank Henderson, a former Post Falls
mayor and Kootenai County Commissioner, has $21,824. Democrat challenger
Lyndon Harriman, a local school teacher, has $4,567.

 

Also in District 5, Sen. Dick Compton, R-Coeur d'Alene, has $17,788. That's
$12,778 more than Democrat challenger Ian Stenseng, a 24-year old political
newcomer.

 

Boise State University political science professor Jim Weatherby said the
Democrats need money to win.

 

He said the party is concentrating on getting local and legislative
candidates elected instead of putting all their effort and resources into
the U.S. congressional and senate races.

 

"They can build from that a foundation," Weatherby said. "And for the party
that will develop greater credibility to entice candidates to step forward
with the prospect that they may actually win a major race."

 

Kersting said he doesn't think that was the party's strategy. For the
federal races, he said viable Democrat candidates just didn't come forward
and there wasn't heavy recruitment.

 

U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, is being challenged by write-in Democrat
Scott McClure of Jerome. U.S. Rep. Butch Otter, R-Idaho, is facing Democrat
Naomi Preston of Eagle, a political newcomer.

 

Yet he said the Democrats do have a heavy focus on legislative races.

 

"We're really working to get out the vote," he said

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