Candidates enter the final stretch

Last week, a number of candidates for the May 18 ballot made their way to Tigert Middle School for a moderated candidate forum sponsored by the Republican Central Committee.  Because the primary campaign season is fully underway at the moment, not all candidates were able to be in attendance, but Caribou County voters were able to hear from a number of contestants in the races that they will be deciding in less than two weeks.

Senator Mark Harris, who is running unopposed for the Republican nomination, prepared a message to the Central Committee, as he was not able to attend.  It read, in part: “It is a privilege for me to represent you and the voters of Caribou County in the Idaho State Senate.  It is a duty I take very seriously.  I am up for reelection this year as is the rest of the legislature and Constitutional Officers.  Even though I do not have a primary challenger, I would still respectfully ask for your permission and your vote to continue to serve in the Senate…I love serving you and it is an honor to represent an area that I grew up in and my kids are growing up in.” 

State level Representative candidates Mike Veile and Chad Christensen were both present to discuss their different visions moving forward.

Veile was appointed by Governor Little to serve in the position after Kevin Andrus was selected to serve in the Trump administration.  Christensen served as a state legislator before District 35 was redrawn.

After explaining their big picture values, the candidates were asked about a range of specific topics by interested voters, including ways to address the perceived rift within the Republican party between different factions, the influence of groups like the Idaho Freedom Foundation on casting votes, support for education in its various forms including private schools, and the acceptable scope of government.  The back and forth itself was fairly lengthy, but each of the candidates has website and social media resources on which they more clearly detail their positions on each of those topics.

Veile’s website is mikeveileforidaho.com and includes a number of contact and informational resources.  Christensen’s website is chadforidaho.com.  

County Clerk Jill Stoor speaks to the crowd at last week's voter forum

 At the contested county commission level, both current commissioner from District 1 Marty McCullough and challenger Tracy Davis were unavailable due to other commitments, but George Hulse, Bancroft resident and challenger for the seat, was on hand.

Hulse explained that he was from Caribou County and “the only time I haven’t lived here is when I was in the military.”  Hulse has taught Hunter’s Ed, served on the TV translator board, been a Scoutmaster, and done all kinds of other service in the county, including extending the Bancroft airport runway by 600 feet.  He explained that he while working at Monsanto he had picked up a number of different, additional skills, and has always loved to keep learning and adding new things to his skillset.  He even returned to school after retirement.  “Anything I can learn is a benefit for not just me, but my family and even my neighbors,” he said. 

Several of the other elected officials from the county who were running unopposed also took the opportunity to speak with their constituents, including District 2 Commission Bryce Somsen, County Clerk Jill Stoor, County Assessor Aaron Cook, and County Treasurer Angie Mendenhall.  Each of the candidates explained what got them into their positions in the first place, what they were currently working on, and why they felt good county administration was so important in the lives of residents.  

The evening ended with current District 6 judge Cody Brower explaining his background to the crowd, as well as listing the things that he felt were important as a representative of the judicial system, including fairness, respect, and following established law as articulated in the Constitution and subsequent body of law.  Brower is running to retain his seat against a challenge from Bannock County attorney Aaron Thompson.  Since judicial elections are nonpartisan and held in the spring, the primary election will determine the District 6 judge seated in Caribou County.  

Cody Brower’s election website can be found at judgebrower.com and Aaron Thompson’s at aaronthompsondistrict6.com.

Questions about the election itself can be directed to the County Clerk’s office in Soda Springs, at 208-547-4324.