For the week of January 23 - 29, 2002

Sen. Craig to Sun Valley: ‘Who are you?’

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By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

Idaho’s senior senator said Friday he does not represent Blaine County, traditionally perceived around the state as a maverick, liberal jurisdiction and Democratic stronghold.

Sen. Larry Craig, the senior member of the state’s all-Republican congressional delegation, spoke to each of the houses of the Legislature during a brief visit Friday. When he addressed the Senate, however, he separated Sun Valley and Blaine County from the rest of Idaho, amidst chuckles from the rural Republican-dominated Legislature.

"They have their own economy," Craig said. "Someone from back East once said, ‘Oh, you represent Sun Valley.’ And I told him ‘No, I don’t represent Sun Valley. (Sen.) Clint Stennett (D-Ketchum) represents Sun Valley, U.S.A.’ "

In the 1996 general election, Craig nabbed 2,796 Blaine County votes. Those votes didn’t constitute a majority, but certainly imply a constituency.

Nonetheless, Stennett didn’t argue with Craig’s assertion.

"It’s true," Stennett replied following the session. "He doesn’t do a very good job of representing Sun Valley or Blaine County" on public lands, fish and wildlife and extractive industries issues.

Stennett, who pointed out that Idaho’s Republicans will hold their annual convention in Sun Valley this summer, said comments like Craig’s are fairly common at Idaho’s Statehouse, but are not typically aired publicly.

"You hear it all the time, but I was surprised he said it in a public forum," Stennett said. "I guess it bubbles under the surface, but there’s a common misconception that Blaine County is different and is not a part of Idaho."

Stennett said he’s been fighting the stereotype since he was elected 12 years ago.

"Comments like Sen. Craig’s certainly don’t help," he said.

Stennett also pointed out that Blaine County is one of four Idaho counties that gives more in tax dollars to the state than it receives in return, which he said is perfectly acceptable. The teasing, he said, is not.

"Why do you make fun of somebody who’s helping everybody else come along?" he asked.

Stennett’s mother, Carole Stennett from Buhl, is chairwoman for the Democratic Party for District 22. After attending the speech by Craig, she said she wondered if all the people she does business with from the Carey, Bellevue and Dietrich areas would not consider themselves Idaho citizens.

But she also pointed out that the recent announcement of Blaine County resident Alan Blinken to challenge Craig for his seat in the upcoming election might have prompted Craig’s remarks.

Blinken, a Democrat, is a former Wall Street investment banker and U.S. ambassador to Belgium. He moved to Sun Valley in 1996.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

 

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