Treasured Valley

Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category

It only took 3 years and Mayor Dale to cast a deciding vote, but now Nampa residents can go to their favorite eating or imbibing locations on Sundays and enjoy a cocktail as responsible adults.

• Idaho Press-Tribune: Nampa establishments gear up for Sunday liquor sales. Nampa bar and restaurant owners say Sunday liquor-by-the-drink sales — banned in Nampa until this coming Sunday — will serve as a much-needed economic boost. The Nampa City Council voted 3-2 to lift the ban, with Mayor Tom Dale casting the tie-breaking vote.

Read the whole story.

While Canyon County residents have been able to buy liquor by the bottle at state-run outlets since December of 2008 they have been unable to buy liquor-by-the-drink at restaurants or bars. Thus sending much needed tax dollars to neighboring Ada County.

Thankfully, Nampa City Council decided that I should be able to enjoy a margarita with my dinner should I choose too. Unfortunately two city council members, Martin Thorne and Stephen Kren don’t think that citizens should be able to make that decision for themselves — they would rather decide for them.

One of the big issues in the Statehouse right now is that Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter wants to cut funding for Idaho Public Television which could mean that rural Idahoans could see their service significantly reduced and  it could mean the end of Idaho Legislature Live (a service that the state should be providing no matter what).

Here are some links to see what everyone is saying about the proposed cuts to Idaho Public Television:

• Defunded IdahoPTV Would Cut Legislature Live as Well. Idaho Public Television has been an institution in this state since 1965. Beginning in Moscow, the organization has expanded over 40 years to reach 97 percent of Idahoans, according to its Web site. Their programming has been able to reach into even the more isolated, rural communities of the Gem State.
• I Want My IPTV. Love your Idaho Public Television? Here’s your chance to show your support for continued state funding of the free channel. Friends of IdahoPTV have started a statewide campaign, aptly named Save Idaho Public Television, to show legislators the support that the organization has across the state. Organizers are asking the public to contact their legislators, especially members of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee, by Wednesday, Jan. 27. Why so soon? That’s when the committee will take its first look at Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s proposed phase-out of state funding for IdahoPTV—currently $1.7 million per year.
• Kevin Richert: Will Idaho Public TV get the ax? Here’s my best guess. Parks enthusiasts raised cain over Gov. Butch Otter’s ill-advised plan to shut down the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. On Friday, Otter blinked, patching together a plan to keep Parks and Recreation alive.
• AnchorMommy: Up on my soapbox: DON’T CUT IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION. I normally don’t spout off much about politics here on AnchorMommy, but right now, I feel I have no choice. Something very disturbing is happening in my beautiful home state of Idaho: funding for Idaho Public Television could soon be phased out — for good.
• Why Idaho Public Television Isn’t Like Oregon’s. Idaho Public Television is also more efficient than most of the other public broadcasting systems to which it can be compared.
• Nonprofit encourages Idahoans to support public TV. A group of donors who support Idaho Public Television are mounting a campaign to try to save the network’s state funding. Friends of Idaho Public Television launched a Web site last weekend asking Idahoans to contact their legislators and members of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee.
• The hidden costs of budget cuts…: Idaho is discovering the hidden costs of budget cuts, as major cutbacks in the state budget threaten to cost more than they’ll save. One example: The $1.6 million the state would save by cutting off funding for Idaho Public Television may be less than the amount IPTV has to repay the federal government for portions of $4 million in grants.

Updated, more links:

• Save Idaho Public Television. No other media organization in Idaho provides access, information, and the opportunity to participate in state government. As a longtime advocate and supporter of Idaho Public Television, I am more than troubled by Governor Otter’s proposal to phase out all state support for IPTV. During my sixteen-year tenure as state superintendent of public instruction I saw firsthand how this important asset was used to enhance the curriculum and enrich classroom instruction for students across the entire state.
• Kevin Richert: Republican: Idaho Public TV should not be ‘dismantled’. Jerry Evans, a Republican and former state schools superintendent, is criticizing GOP Gov. Butch Otter’s proposal to phase out Idaho Public Television funding. “IPTV should not be treated more favorably than other state agencies or be exempt from today’s economic reality, but the system doesn’t deserve to be dismantled,” Evans said in a guest opinion issued this morning.

Ironically, you can watch the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) discuss the proposed cuts live online tomorrow, Wednesday the 27th on Idaho Public Television’s Legislature Live website.

Make sure you go to Save Idaho Public Television where with a couple of clicks you can send an email to all the members of JFAC. You can also find another collection of links related to IPTV on their news page.

Save Idaho Public Television on Facebook.

Idaho Public Television on Facebook | Twitter.

Idaho Reports on Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Dialog on Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

One thing I love about TREASURED VALLEY readers is that most of you are here for different reasons — some of you are here for the morning news, some here for pictures of food, some click to read about beer and some of you are here to get your Idaho politics fix. And yes, I do think that the Daily Politics Brief is the most comprehensive Idaho politics roundup you’ll find in Idaho each day — from broadcast media, to editorials, to bloggers, to sitting legislator’s personal blogs, you’ll find news and opinion from all sides of the political spectrum in the Daily Politics Brief.

That being said, the Daily Politics Brief is only here in the morning and for some of you that isn’t enough. So I thought I’d give you a away to get your fix throughout the day — which, while the Legislature is in session there is plenty of news showing up throughout the day.

Now, these aren’t the only sites out there covering Idaho politics by any means, there are a lot of them that do an excellent job, these are the ones that are updated throughout the day often as stories are breaking.

• Boise Weekly’s City Desk. In the mist of covering the day to day activities of the Statehouse, Nathaniel Hoffman and Andrew Crisp also cover the stories that other media outlets won’t touch. They cover the happenings at the Statehouse with brevity, tiding wit while articulating the story from the viewpoint of the people whom Statehouse decisions affect. You can also follow Under the Rotunda on Twitter here.
• The Spokesman-Review’s Eye On Boise from Betsy Russell. You want instant news? Eye On Boise is the place to be — Betsy Russell is not only one of the most knowledgeable reporters on the beat, but she is undoubtedly the fastest. You can follow Betsy on Twitter here.
• The Spokesman-Review’s Huckleberries Online from blogmaster D.F. Oliveria. While you may have to sort through some North Idaho local politics, HBO also regularly posts stories on state politics in the Gem state. Boasting the most active (and, thankfully, regulated) comment section, it’s a great place to engage in politics pugilism if you’re up to the challenge. Updated throughout the day it’s a good choice to stay up-to-the-minute on Idaho politics.
• Idaho Legislature Live from Idaho Reports. Wanna cut out the middle man? Just pop on over to Idaho Legislature Live and you can watch the House, Senate and JFAC in real time on your computer monitor. You will also want to follow Idaho Reports host Thanh Tan on Twitter, she regularly sends updates throughout the day — you can follow her here.

(Updated: in my haste I forgot an unforgettable)

• Also check out Kevin Richert’s blog Commentary at the Idaho Statesman. Kevin is always providing an editor’s viewpoint to the news of the day and is active with readership, something you don’t see that often. You can follow him on Twitter here.

Like I said, these are just the places you might want to check out of you’re needing a fix throughout the day, there are plenty others that cover Idaho politics as well, New West Boise with great stories from Idaho editor Jill Kuraitis and contributor Sharon Fisher. You’ll also want to regularly check out the Idaho Politics blog from the Idaho Statesman which is updated by a host of Statesman reporters.

I also hope you’ll continue to read the Daily Politics Brief here at TREASURED VALLEY, your one-stop shop to stay up-to-date on Idaho politics.

Last night Larry Craig made a short appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

You can check it out here on Hulu — it’s the second segment (clip may be NSFW depending on where you’re at).

Drumroll please…

It’s Keith Allred, founder of The Common Interest.

From NewWest.Net Boise:

Keith Allred, Democrat, to Form Committee for Idaho Governor’s Race

Allred leads a respected nonprofit, nonpartisan citizen’s group called The Common Interest.

By Jill Kuraitis

Keith Allred of Eagle is expected to appoint a political treasurer and file the required C-1 form with the Secretary of State which will mark him as a Democratic candidate for governor in 2010, NewWest.Net has learned.

Allred, a public policy negotiator and leadership expert who has won respect and praise from both parties, can’t officially file for office until March 8, but a preliminary fundraising committee is the usual signal that a candidate will run.

[...]

Make sure you read the whole story from Jill Kuraitis at NewWest.Net Boise.

While Allred is definitely behind the fundraising curve he should be an excellent (and viable) candidate in what promises to be an exciting race for the Governor’s seat. Gov. Otter is expected to face a messy primary challenge from Sharon Ullman and with Jana Kemp running as a Independent the general election will be a three-way which can favor the second-in-the-running candidate.

An interesting, and unexpected development indeed.

Updated:

Here are some other reactions:

• Eye On Boise: Allred looking at governor’s race. Keith Allred, founder of the non-partisan The Common Interest citizen group in Idaho and a Harvard professor and mediator, is expected to file initial paperwork today to begin exploring a run for governor of Idaho as a Democrat. “He is not a candidate because he hasn’t filed his C1 yet,” said Betty Richardson, chair of the Idaho Democratic Party’s candidate recruitment committee. “However, I would expect that a filing will take place later today.”
• Kevin Richert: Keith Allred is (reportedly) the Democrats’ mystery candidate for governor. In one of the shortest-lived mysteries in Idaho political history, Democrats appear to have their “secret” candidate for governor. And he’s an interesting pick: Keith Allred, a former public policy professor at Harvard who returned to his native Idaho to head up the respected (and nonpartisan) good-government group The Common Interest.

Idaho Statesman:

Ken Roberts quits Idaho congressional race; newcomer Ward vows to keep working hard

Idaho House GOP Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts withdrew from the 2010 race for Congress Tuesday, shortly after his former campaign manager said Roberts wasn’t raising enough money to win.

In a news release, Roberts said his health was a deciding factor. He also said he expects another candidate with “strong conservative credentials” to enter the race in his stead. Last week, Roberts said former U.S. Rep. Bill Sali may run to reclaim a seat he lost to Democrat Walt Minnick in 2008 by about 4,200 votes.

[...]

This may lend more credence to the rumor that Bill Sali is going to try and get his seat back. Though may prove difficult for even Bill Sali to win the primary against Vaughn Ward with his Palin/GOP establishment nexus. From the get-go Roberts has been a candidate out of his league, so I don’t think that this really comes as a big surprise, especially when Ward has out-raised Roberts, $246,000 to $62,000.

Updated:

We now know who that “unnamed Conservative” is, it’s Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Eagle). After Roberts announced that he was leaving the race, Labrador announced that he is running for the seat.

An interesting development, indeed. Labrador is really cut from the same cloth as Bill Sali when it comes to tax issues, but he doesn’t seem to be as much of a hardliner as Bill Sali when it comes to social issues. That being said, Labrador is on the outs with the establishment, much of his support will come from the far-right of the Idaho GOP.

This should make for an interesting primary as Labrador is a viable candidate — Roberts never was.

Just received this from Rep. Walt Minnick’s camp.

With his support already waning inside Idaho Democratic circles this should make for an interesting topic of discussion over the next couple of weeks. Also newsworthy in the 1st CD today is that former-Rep. Bill Sali may or may not toss his hat back into the ring to get his old seat back.

Read the rest of this entry »

Thomson wins, Valley incumbents maintain and streetcars in Boise and beyond…

• Newcomer TJ Thomson wins in Boise. Boise City Council incumbents Vernon Bisterfeldt and Maryanne Jordan won, as did newcomer TJ Thomson. See results for these races and more on our election page. Early results show varied turnout at polls.
• Bisterfeldt, Jordan, Thomson Win Boise Council Seats. The Boise city clerk’s office is reporting big wins for incumbents Vern Bisterfeldt and Maryanne Jordan and a comfortable victory for TJ Thomson, with all precincts reporting, just prior to midnight.
• Dozens of voters turned around at polls. Brad Jackson, chief deputy clerk with the Canyon County Elections Office says they don’t send out new voting location notifications because postage is too expensive.
• Streetcars on the ballot in Boise, other cities amid nationwide trolley revival. A streetcar revival in American cities isn’t just kicking up sparks from the tracks. They’re flying down at city hall, too.
• Confidence Vote for Streetcar in Cincinnati. Cincinnati voters appear to have defeated a ballot measure that would have forced a vote on a downtown streetcar, essentially giving the city leadership a vote of confidence on the project.
• Tom Dale wins re-election as mayor of Nampa. Nampa Mayor Tom Dale appeared poised to handily fend off three challengers Tuesday to win a third term.
• Caldwell mayor Garret Nancolas earns another four-year term. Twelve-year Caldwell Mayor Garret Nancolas won his bid for another term over challenger Helmut Martinez Kohler in the Tuesday election.
• Canyon County jail bond fails by super majority rule. A major issue on the ballots in Canyon County was the 46 million dollar jail bond. Even though about 58 percent of voters were in favor of the bond, it still did not pass.
• Regional town election results.

I’ll update this post with more links as they come in this morning. (updated 12:20 p.m.)

• Kevin Richert: Losing elections, with and without grace.Sitting in on election night with Nate Shelman on KBOI 670, we got to hear from several candidates on the losing side of the polls. These are never easy interviews — and because of that, they tend to tell you a lot about the politico taking the questions.
• Boise Guardian: [...] At the risk of being accused of a quantum leap in irony, we have to ponder how many “warriors” of the Idaho National Guard and their loved ones didn’t vote in local elections, but risk their lives so the people of Iraq and Afghanistan will have a democratic government.
• Ridenbaugh Press: ID: A Pocatello shocker, non-surprises elsewhere. So far as we can see, there’s one big shocker in Idaho elections today: Two-term Pocatello Mayor Roger Chase ousted by newcomer Brian Blad. The margin was around 53%-47% – not large, but enough to decide.
• Eye On Boise: How that went… After the Idaho Republican Party took the unusual step of passing a central committee resolution backing party involvement in non-partisan city races, one county’s GOP central committee endorsed a challenger, Alex Creek, in a city council race in Idaho Falls; some party activists portrayed a Boise City Council race as partisan because one candidate, T.J. Thomson, was a key organizer for Barack Obama’s Idaho campaign; and a non-official GOP group endorsed and campaigned for a city council challenger, Jim Brannon, against councilman Mike Kennedy in Coeur d’Alene. The result: Creek lost 2-1; Thomson won handily; and Kennedy won by five votes.
• From the Editor: The election is over, but here are some takeaways from this year’s city council and mayoral elections.
• The Dead Acorn: An Obscentiy Laced Rant (ed. I didn’t even have to warn ya, he did).
• Fort Boise: Right wing gaggle whacked in NY-23.
• Idaho Business Review: Low-turnout election provides few clues on Boise streetcar. Less than 18 percent of registered voters in Boise turned out to vote in City Council elections Nov. 3, offering little insight into where city residents stand in the ongoing debate over a downtown streetcar project.
• Kevin Richert: Boise elections: When a vote isn’t a mandate. I’m not sure 17.6 percent of the voters can deliver a mandate. This sliver of the Boise electorate resoundingly re-elected City Council incumbents Vern Bisterfeldt and Maryanne Jordan and gave TJ Thomson a comfortable win in an open council race. And I suppose the 82.4 percent who stayed home offered a form of tacit approval to Mayor Dave Bieter and the council.

Other Idaho politics news:

• Idaho lawmakers meet Wednesday on health reform. Congress might not vote on health care legislation until 2010, but that hasn’t stopped Idaho lawmakers from debating the issue — and how the state should respond, if something actually is passed.
• Four Canyon P&Z commissioners resign. Four Planning and Zoning commissioners have or will resign, citing a variety of personal reasons. The moves follow Friday’s resignation of Canyon County’s development director, Wayne Forrey. Jeffrey Hess, who had served as chairman of the commission, vice chairman Jack Lyman, secretary Larry Kostka and L. Merritt McKay have all announced their resignations to county commissioners.
• After new budget cuts, Idaho lays off more workers. Gov. Butch Otter’s latest order for state agencies to save money has prompted additional government layoffs.
• Three more NCA charter board members resign. Nampa Classical Academy board members Carolina McCarther, Mitch Miller, and Bryon Merrill (ad-hoc member) resigned their positions, effective today.

I’d say the the one thing that you can take from last night’s election is that people are pretty happy with the current makeup of political leadership in Treasure Valley cities. From what I can tell right now it appears that only 3 city council incumbents lost last night, in Kuna, Star and Eagle. If I had to quickly sum up last night, I’d have to go with Boise Weekly’s Nathaniel Hoffman speaking on the Boise City Council results; “…not a real referendum on anything” — I think you could apply that to the rest of the Treasure Valley.

Boise residents are very happy with their representation, the two incumbents easily defeated their challengers and newcomer TJ Thomson comfortably beat David Lister. I don’t think that the Boise Tea Baggers have the support that they think do.

The Mayors of Nampa and Caldwell easily coasted to victory, and while all of the incumbent city council members won their races in both Nampa and Caldwell there were some pretty close ones, definitely something to keep your eye on in the future.

Also no surprise that both Treasure Valley bond issues failed. It wasn’t surprising that the Star golf course/pool bond failed 70% to 30%, but what is surprising is that the Canyon County jail bond managed to get 58% of the vote (it needed 2/3rds to pass). Canyon County is definitely don’t-tax-me-for-anything land so I’m kinda surprised that it got as many votes as it did, although it did help that the political establishment was helping push it. A new jail is something that we need and we’re gonna have to build anyway.

All in all it was a pretty quiet evening for what was a fairly noisy last month of campaigning.

If you know of any other reactions to last night’s elections please leave them in the comments so I can add them to the list.