For the week of October 23 - 29, 2002

Ridinger, Pence duel 
for District 25 votes

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By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

In the race for the District 25 House of Representatives south-district seat, the incumbent Tim Ridinger touted his experience, while challenger Donna Pence said she will devote time and energy to the job she claimed Ridinger has done adequately.

"I think we deserve better than adequate," Pence said during the annual Pizza and Politics debate Oct. 16 in Hailey.

Tim Ridinger

Ridinger, 46, is a four-term incumbent and has lived in Idaho since he was six months old. He said his most important platform planks are improving education, supporting small businesses, empowering local governments, working for clean water and preserving private property rights.

Pence, 60, has lived in Idaho since she was 6. This is her first foray into the political arena.

Donna Pence

She said her campaign focuses on securing and protecting education funding, decreasing the number of teens and young adults who are suffering from drug and alcohol problems, managing natural resources properly and protecting water quality.

Pence and Ridinger spent most of the candidates forum fielding questions about Idaho’s pending budget shortfall, sure to be a high-profile issue in this winter’s legislative session.

Pence called Idaho’s tax system a "hodge podge" in need of an overhaul.

Ridinger, who voted two years ago for a massive tax return that some say set the state up for unnecessary budget cuts, said long-term planning is needed.

"Hindsight is 20-20," he said of his affirmative vote on the huge tax relief package.

Both candidates said the Legislature may have to remove sales tax exemptions, and both were vague about which exemptions they might consider for repeal.

Pence said the state could go back to the drawing board, the original 17 sales tax exemptions, and grant new exemptions, as they are needed.

Ridinger said that before any decisions are made, an examination should try to determine if all of the exemptions are doing what they were meant to do.

 

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