For the week of October 23 - 29, 2002

Republicans conduct campaign blitz in valley

Visit Ketchum, Hailey and 
Bellevue by bus

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

A contingent of Idaho Republicans running for an assortment of key federal and state offices cooperated in a brief campaign blitz through the Wood River Valley Friday, hoping to secure votes in one of the strongholds of their Democratic opponents.

The visit to the valley was part of a two-week Republican bus tour through the state that is seeking to firm up support for GOP hopefuls that include incumbent U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, incumbent Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and a multitude of others seeking offices in the state Capitol.

Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, enjoyed a laugh Friday with Sun Valley Mayor David Wilson in downtown Ketchum. Craig—an incumbent U.S. senator seeking re-election—was traveling through the Wood River Valley with several other Republicans running for elected offices as part of a two-week bus tour to campaign throughout the state. Express photo by David N. Seelig

The GOP bus tour kicked off Oct. 15, and is slated to continue on its high-paced trip through Idaho for approximately one more week. The tour is scheduled to make more than 100 stops in Idaho cities.

The decorated GOP coach rolled into Ketchum shortly after 11 a.m. Friday, honking its horns to announce its stop at the corner of Main Street and Sun Valley Road. Making the stop in Ketchum with a small entourage of supporters were Craig, state attorney general candidate Lawrence Wasden, District 25 state senator candidate Tom Faulkner, Blaine County assessor candidate Walt Cochran, state controller candidate Keith Johnson and state schools superintendent challenger Tom Luna.

The group was greeted on the sidewalk by David Wilson, mayor of Sun Valley, and Latham Williams, president of the Sun Valley City Council and vice president of the Idaho Republican Party.

During the half-hour stop, Craig said he believed his record was "solid," but promised to remain an active legislator if he was returned to the Senate. He specifically pledged to make efforts to sustain economic growth and end "stagnation" in the resolve of conflicts over the use of public lands.

Craig criticized Democrats in Congress for challenging legislation put forth by Republican representatives, and said he wants to see the GOP reclaim the Senate to help make certain Republican-initiated tax cuts "permanent."

Craig, who is being challenged by Alan Blinken, a Blaine County Democrat, said that although Blaine County has a relatively high standard of living, it does have issues that need to be addressed. "Blaine County is challenged by its growth," he said.

The senator said he has fought to bring federal mass-transit funds to Blaine County, and, if re-elected, would seek to bring more federal money to the region for "appropriate causes," such as a new transponder at Friedman Memorial Airport.

Attorney general candidate Wasden said he would work to defend Idaho’s water interests, pursue prosecution of criminals, address the state’s drug-abuse problems, and seek an overall decrease in the state’s crime rate.

The Friday leg of the bus tour started in Salmon and proceeded to Stanley before coming to the Wood River Valley. The candidates were joined by Kempthorne at a lunch at The Mint in Hailey, and then proceeded to Bellevue, Picabo and Carey.

 

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.