Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Simpson, Holmes win 2nd District primaries

Field of 5 narrowed to 2 for November general election


By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

Incumbent Republican Congressman Mike Simpson and Democratic challenger Deborah Holmes will face off in the general election Nov. 4 for Idaho's 2nd District House of Representatives seat.

At press time late Tuesday evening, Simpson had easily pulled in his party's nomination with 85 percent of the statewide vote. At the same time, Holmes pulled in 69 percent of the statewide Democratic vote.

In Blaine County, both trends held true. Simpson garnered 665 votes to 41 for challenger Jack Wayne Chappell, of Buhl, and 30 for Twin Falls businessman Gregory Nemitz. In Blaine County, Holmes nabbed 880 votes to David Sneddon's 216.

The primary race for the Democratic and Republican nominations was fairly low-key. Simpson didn't actively campaign. His primary opponents made visits to newspapers and wrote letters to the editor, but it was unclear whether their messages resonated with Idaho voters.

Democratic challengers Holmes and Sneddon wrote letters to the editor. Holmes spent several days campaigning in cities throughout the region, including Blaine County. Again, it was unclear which Democratic candidate had gained more traction with voters.

Simpson is serving his fifth term and serves on the House Appropriations and House Budget committees. His subcommittee assignments include Energy and Water Development, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

Simpson has gained widespread attention in Idaho for his Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act, which attempts to sort out a huge and longstanding wilderness conundrum as well as address the concerns of economic growth and stability for rural Idaho in and around the Boulder and White Cloud mountains, north of Ketchum.

Holmes, a trained chemist working as a Boise real estate agent, has lived in the Treasure Valley for 17 years. This is her first political campaign, but she said in a recent interview that she is excited about the challenge. Her platform focuses on Iraq, education, financial reform and affordable health care, which she said are "important to Idaho voters."

"Every day I see what's wrong," she said. "I see problems that can be solved, can be legislated. I'm a Democrat because I believe in helping the average person. I believe the way a society treats its weakest citizens is a measure of its worth."

This is Holmes' first run for elected office, and though her political positions are clear she said she is working at becoming better at public speaking.

"I feel so strongly about what I have to say," she said. "I'm not nervous. I'm passionate. But I know I have room to improve on speaking."




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