Ullman Running for Governor

At the end of May, after giving a great deal of thought to the matter of who could challenge Governor Otter, I came up with a name: Ada County Commissioner Sharon Ullman.  Tonight, I was congratulated on the call by someone who thought I was crazy for suggesting it, because Sharon Ullman is in.

Ada County Commissioner Sharon Ullman told the Idaho Statesman Tuesday she will seek the Republican nomination to run for Governor of Idaho in 2010…

“My priority is local government,” Ullman said Tuesday. “My time in office, I am seeing the impact that the state has on us in local government. Our property tax system is, if not broken, it’s flawed.”

By running, Ullman said, she can put a voice to local issues in the Idaho Legislature and with the public. She said that state government has not been receptive to issues of public health and safety concerns.

“Bottom line, public health and safety. Isn’t that what government is all about.” Ullman said. “…Well, if nothing else, I can put a voice to some of those issues by running for this position.”

Ullman is the serious challenger to Otter in this race. Let there be no doubt. She has Executive experience and has won in Idaho’s most populous county. She has an existing support network that should grow during the course of a campaign.

Otter meanwhile is in a poor spot of his own making. It’s true that Otter’s done some good things as Governor. Reducing the size of legislative annex was a smart move that saved the state millions, and Otter has made some hard choices during tough economic times. 

Otter’s tenure has been defined by his fights with the conservative base of the party. First, he attempted to turn the Grocery Tax Credit, which is designed to defray some of the costs of the Sales Tax on food, and  turn it into a Welfare program that would raise taxes on the middle class. During the last session, the story out of the session should have been that the state made hard decisions to balance the budget that will leave us with a cushion should bad times persist. Instead, the last story of the legislative session is Otter fighting for a tax increase in the middle of a recession.

Conservatives have other problems at well. From the bone-chilling ordeal of Chris Pentico who was prosecuted for what amounted to being persistent with the Governor’s office and other state officials. In addition, there are many who feel that rather than heeding the call to unite behind our new leadership after the 2008 State Convention, Otter instead placed passive aggressive games that ended up costing Bill Sali his congressional seat.

Beyond the grievances, there’s a basic fact that Otter’s not had a great term. And rarely is the Governor’s second term better than than the first.

Ullman has a lot of offer, as an open government reformer who can speak more pursuasively to fiscal conservatism, and getting things done after an Administration that has not been horribly productive in solving problems. It’s going to be an uphill climb against an Idaho political institution, but Ullman does have a shot.