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For the week of  September 12 - 18, 2001

  News

Over 100 attend Republicans picnic

Kempthorne motors through


By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne included a stop in Ketchum during a motorcycle tour of Central Idaho to visit Sunday with folks at the Blaine County Republicans’ revived annual fall picnic at Rotary Park.

Kempthorne joined Lt. Gov. Jack Riggs, Speaker of the House Bruce Newcomb, Sen. John Sandy, R-Hagerman, and various other elected Idaho officials at the picnic.

Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne revs the motor on his new motorycycle following the Blaine County Republicans’ fall picnic Sunday in Ketchum. Kempthorne’s bike tour of Central Idaho included Redfish Lake, where 33 sockeye salmon were released by Idaho Fish and Game biologists. (See story on Page A20 of the printed Idaho Mountain Express) Express photo by David N. Seelig

Because of final redistricting plans, Sandy has been assigned to the new District 25, which includes Blaine, Camas, Gooding and Lincoln counties. The new plan could pit Sandy against Sen. Clint Stennett, D-Ketchum, for the fall, 2002, election.

Over 100 local residents and politicians attended the picnic.

Blaine County Republicans Chairman Maurice Charlat said there was a "very, very good turnout of the hierarchy of elected officials and their staff from Idaho."

"We were very gratified for the turnout we got," Charlat said.

Charlat agreed that the picnic was an indicator of the revitalization of the Blaine County Republican Party, which has been fairly dormant for several years. Charlat has been spearheading efforts for the past year to renew the local party’s momentum and influence on local, state and national politics.

Idaho Sen. John Sandy, R-Hagerman, was one of several Idaho politicians to attend the Blaine County Republicans fall picnic Sunday. Sandy is part of the new district 25, which includes Blaine County. The new district will become effective in January of 2002. Express photo by David N. Seelig

Charlat also stressed that he doesn’t believe partisan politics belong at the local level. He plans to attend the Blaine County Democrats’ fall picnic at Atkinson’s Park on Sunday.

Blaine County Republicans State Committeeman Latham Williams said the picnic, besides an opportunity to socialize, also gave Blaine County Republicans the opportunity to discuss hosting the state’s republican convention next year.

The convention will be held in Sun Valley June 15 to 18 next summer and will serve as a precursor to the November, 2002 elections in which nearly every elected official in the state will be up for re-election.

"We are thrilled to have been chosen as the hosts for this convention," Charlat said. "We have been working very hard to rebuild the party infrastructure in Blaine County and are hoping that by the time the convention rolls around, we will have in place a model county organization."

The GOP will bring more than 650 delegates, alternates and their families to the Wood River Valley for the four-day convention.


The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.