Are you scratching your head right now?
You can stop.
You read that headline correctly.
When Jerry Brady, who was competitive as a Democratic candidate for Idaho governor in recent years, declined to take another stab at the position, many were left wondering who could possibly fill the void and make the race for the state's highest office, against Idaho's Republican machine, anything but a token gesture.
I first met Keith Allred, candidate for Idaho governor in 2010, back in 1998 when he was a professor at Columbia University. We shared several great conversations about things cultural, spiritual and political in his Manhattan apartment and around the city.
So I was happy to find out that Idahoans are enthusiastically supporting his campaign.
Allred has maintained a strong fundraising edge over incumbent Butch Otter that continues in the most recent campaign finance report.
The campaign raised $487,101 from its launch in late December 2009 to June 4, 2010. The vast majority, 93 percent, of the campaign’s 2,130 contributors during that period are from Idaho.
"I’m glad to see that our campaign is enthusiastically supported by everyday Idahoans," said Allred. "I intend to make Idaho government work by, for and of the people, and our supporters are responding."
The campaign reported to the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office that in the period between May 10 through June 4, some 550 Idaho donors contributed to Allred’s campaign. The campaign raised $118,860 in that same period, and now has $189,994 cash on hand.
That’s a far cry from the report filed by Otter: In the same period, he raised $95,969 and has $161,532 on hand.
The spending records are another story altogether: During the same period, Otter's campaign spent $135,572. Allred's report shows a fiscally conservative spending record of $58,917.
"Not only are we building solid support, but we’re spending less than Butch Otter’s campaign," Allred said. "I hope Idahoans are taking note: I’ll be running Idaho’s government in much the same way."
Keith Allred is a fifth-generation Idahoan who grew up working on his family’s ranches. He has been the leader of The Common Interest, a citizens’ advocate group that helped lower property taxes and fight proposals to raise car and pickup registration fees.
Bethine Church, widow of Sen. Frank Church, predicted that Allred will energize people all across the political spectrum:
I think we can expect one of the liveliest campaigns we’ve seen in years, she said.
Campaign Treasurer Margaret Henbest, a former legislator, said Allred’s many contacts and the legislative successes of his non-partisan group, The Common Interest, will stand him in good stead:
Keith has the ability to reach out to all sides, she said. He’s a real problem solver, and that’s what Idaho needs.
According to House Minority Leader John Rusche of Lewiston:
I can’t think of a candidate who better represents the ‘Big Tent’ approach of the Democratic Party in Idaho. Allred is also "a down-to-earth good guy.
Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly of Boise welcomed Allred’s filing:
Keith understands that people want accountability and transparency in their government. He knows that the people’s business must be done in public, that the people’s voices must be heard, that there’s no room for catering to special interests behind closed doors.
Another former Senate leader, Mary Lou Reed of Coeur d’Alene, said she knows Allred well:
We’ve worked together on a number of things and I marvel at his ability to bring people together. But what really delights me is that Keith is an outdoorsman. He knows we must protect Idaho’s special places.
But is this just a bunch of party hawks spewing out press material, or is this candidate "for real?"
A strong measure of a newcomer's viability on a high profile race is his ability to raise money. A previous, early report showed Allred off to a great start in only three weeks:
The deadline for filing campaign finance reports that cover the period through Dec. 31 hasn’t yet arrived, but two candidates already are releasing numbers. Keith Allred, Democratic candidate for governor, announced today that in the three weeks since he filed his declaration of candidacy on Dec. 10, 2009, through the close of the period Dec. 31, he raised $130,807.
Hindsight is 20/20 vision, or so the saying goes. A previous report from 43rdStateBlues said:
Current Governor Butch Otter had approximately $117,000 on hand in his campaign last July and has yet to disclose his numbers for the second half of 2009. Butch is well tied into the big money interests represented by IACI. The question is whether they've already ponied up or were hedging to see if contributions would be necessary. If they haven't already contributed, it'll be interesting to see if Allred gives them something to think about. The disclosure deadline is January 31.
Note to Idaho Republicans: You have a race on your hands.
Party Chair Keith Roark said he’s delighted with the reaction he’s been hearing from around the state:
... this is a great start. Keith Allred is a proven problem solver, someone who can bring people together. He will bring energy, enthusiasm and a new perspective to the race. And most importantly, this is someone who would be an outstanding Governor for Idaho.
Allred's official campaign website: http://www.allredforidaho.com/...