More Thoughts on Filing

Several thoughts on the passing filing scene:

• We have a conservative stepping forward to run for Lieutenant Governor. Steve Pankey is the only filed Republican Candidate for Lieutenant Governor. It appears from this cached website that Pankey was planning on running for Governor but switched to the #2 job. His platform for Governor was kind of general including core values and traditional values, but he sounds far more promising than Brad Little.
• Is Id. Rep. Russ Matthews trying to help Mike Simpson get renominated? Let me be clear. Matthews has a bang up of Conservative record, but I’ve seen very little evidence of any serious support for him while Chick Heilseson has been doing the required organizational work for months. Knocking off Simpson is a tough challenge. It’s made even harder when a candidate who hasn’t done the necessary work is splitting the anti-Simpson vote.
• I think the district of Rep. George Sayler (D-4) is going to flip GOP with Sayler’s retirement.  While former Pocatello Mayor Greg Anderson has got to be favored to help retiring Rep. James Ruchti’s State House Seat, District 29′s other representative is Republican Ken Andrus, so this is a potential loss for the Democrats. The seat of retiring State Rep. Donna Boe (D-30) should be safe for the Democrats.
• If I was an Idaho Democrat, my top priority this year would be getting Anderson elected in District 29. If Anderson is elected to the State House, he instantly becomes the Democratic Gubenatorial frontrunner in 2014 in the incredibly likely event that Keith Allred isn’t elected Governor. Democrats may have a great opportunity in 2014 to retake the Governor’s mansion, but they’ll need a big dog with executive experience. Anderson is it. But if Anderson can’t even win a State House race, it’ll dim his prospects.
• If there’s one Treasure Valley legislator who deserves a primary challenge this year, it’s Senator John Andreason (R-15) who is currently running without opposition. Andreason voted against the Conscience Clause and against the Idaho Health Freedom Act. He’s the most liberal GOP member of the Ada County delegation, and it’s past time for him to be retired. Yet, for some reason, the only primary challenge in that district is directed at Rep. Lynn Luker (R-15) who is really not that bad.
• Speaking of Luker’s district, right now it looks like the Democrats’ best chance for a pick up in what’s going to be a rocky election year. In addition to the primary challenge, Luker faces an Independent and a Libertarian which could drain votes from him in the Fall. As of yet, though, the Democrats haven’t got a challenger to file. It’ll be interesting to see if they can produce one by the end of the filing period. If not, the seat will stay GOP. However, with a strong Democratic challenger, this could be one of the premier races to watch this fall.
• Another great primary match up is in Twin Falls where Vice Mayor Lee Heider is running for the legislature against Senator Chuck Coiner (R-24). Heider says Coiner’s not a conservative. That’s the understatement of the year. This could be a great opportunity for conservatives to move the State Senate to the right by replacing a left of Center Republican with someone more conservative.