Commissioner candidates race for the primaries
By TRAVIS PURSER
Express Staff Writer
With a final flurry of mailers, newspaper and radio ads, roadside signs
and post office handshaking appearances, candidates for the contested north and south
Blaine County commissioner seats made their final push for votes this week.
Last night’s primary election selected party candidates for White
House national tickets and state and county offices. Candidates will face final voter
approval in November’s general election.
Also on the ballot was a hotly contested Idaho Supreme Court seat. Fourth
District Judge Daniel Eismann is attempting to oust incumbent Supreme Court Justice Cathy
Silak in what could turn to be a tight race.
Because voters could cast only all Democratic or all Republican votes last
night, two of the four Democrats running for county commissioner faced being knocked out
of the race.
Campaign financial reports filed with the county clerk revealed the
following expenditures by the candidates:
In her contest for the Democratic nomination for the north county
commissioner’s seat, Sarah Michael has spent $760 of $1,600 thus far collected,
according to her report.
Michael’s expenses have bought postage for mailers, radio
advertising, office supplies and campaign brochures.
Her opponent, Sally Donart, has spent $1,820 of $2,900 in contributions on
printing, office supplies, photography, newspaper advertising, postage for mailers,
campaign pins and campaign help.
In the south county, incumbent Dennis Wright has spent nearly all of his
$500 in campaign funds on newspaper advertising.
His opponent, Rob Peck, has spent nearly all of his $1,600 in funds on
photography, printing and newspaper ads.
All four commissioner candidates have received their donations from
private individuals.
The Democratic nominee for north county commissioner will compete with
Republican candidate Ivan Swaner and independent candidate Sue Noel on November’s
ballot.
The south county Democratic nominee will compete with independent James
Super.
The unchallenged sheriff candidates, Dan Tiller, a Democrat, and Walt
Femling, the Republican incumbent, were each guaranteed a place on the general election
ballot regardless of last night’s primary.
That fact was evident in the lack of campaigning effort by both
candidates. So far, neither Tiller nor Femling have received campaign contributions,
according to their campaign financial disclosure reports.
During a telephone conversation Monday, Femling said campaigning for the
sheriff’s seat would likely heat up as the November general election nears.
For the county prosecutor seat being vacated by incumbent Doug Werth, only
one candidate, Jim Thomas, seeks office. Thomas has raised no money.
