krichert's blog

Statesman endorsement scorecard

Kevin Richert — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:44:05 -0500

The scorecard from Tuesday's city elections: Statesman-endorsed candidates won seven of 12 races across the Valley.

The Statesman editorial board endorsed victorious candidates Vern Bisterfeldt, Maryanne Jordan and TJ Thomson for Boise City Council; Tom Dale for Nampa mayor; Pam White, Nampa City Council; Keith Bird, Meridian City Council; and Richard Cardoza, Kuna City Council.

The track record on bond issues was 1-for-2. The Statesman opposed the Star golf course bond, which failed, and supported the Canyon County jail bond, which also was voted down.

Push poll? Depends on how you define it. (UPDATED, 7:05 p.m.)

Kevin Richert — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:27:29 -0500

Updated, 7:05 p.m., to add a quote from Nathaniel Hoffman.

The Center for Media and Democracy defines a "push poll" as follows: "Using the guise of opinion polling, disinformation about a candidate or issue is planted in the minds of those being 'surveyed'. Push-polls are designed to shape, rather than measure, public opinion."

The center's definition of push polling carries more weight with me than Nathaniel Hoffman's.

Boise elections: When a vote isn't a mandate

Kevin Richert — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:03:28 -0500

I'm not sure 17.6 percent of the voters can deliver a mandate.

This sliver of the Boise electorate resoundingly re-elected City Council incumbents Vern Bisterfeldt and Maryanne Jordan and gave TJ Thomson a comfortable win in an open council race. And I suppose the 82.4 percent who stayed home offered a form of tacit approval to Mayor Dave Bieter and the council.

Pathetic turnout? No doubt. Mandate? I doubt it. A disaffected shrug? That's my guess.

Losing elections, with and without grace

Kevin Richert — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:02:29 -0500

Sitting in on election night with Nate Shelman on KBOI 670, we got to hear from several candidates on the losing side of the polls.

These are never easy interviews — and because of that, they tend to tell you a lot about the politico taking the questions.

Election live blog (updated, 11:46 p.m.)

Kevin Richert — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:41:58 -0500

11:46 p.m. Two years ago, Gary Smith lost a Star City Council election by one vote. Now, it appears he has narrowly won a council seat.

Smith received 514 votes, a 51 percent majority, to incumbent Dustin Christopherson's 493 votes.

11:29 p.m. Cliffhanger of the night: Challenger Bob Henry has passed Nampa City Council incumbent Martin Thorne -- but leads by only seven votes.

With three of 19 Nampa precincts reporting, Henry has 626 votes to Thorne's 619.

Live blogging tonight

Kevin Richert — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:52:12 -0500

No blog this morning, but I'll be back here tonight to blog about the election results.

I'll also post Twitter updates @KevinRichert.

For more election talk and analysis, join Nate Shelman at 670 KBOI from 9 to 11 p.m. I'll be in the studio talking over the results.

Minnick makes a top 10 list of 'vulnerable' incumbents

Kevin Richert — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:01:11 -0500

Thinking one year out to the 2010 elections, Idaho Rep. Walt Minnick has made an unenviable Top 10 list.

The first-term lawmaker has made the list of the 10 most vulnerable House incumbents, as compiled by Beltway reading staple Roll Call.

Ranking aside, how much is Minnick at risk?

The Litster-Thomson streetcar debate: Round and round it goes

Kevin Richert — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:55:01 -0400

Just in case you missed it, Dave Litster doesn't like the streetcar.

He considers it Mayor Dave Bieter's "trolley folly."

And in a slick campaign flier that made its way into mailboxes this week, the Boise City Council candidate mentions the trolley eight, count 'em, eight times. Four times on each side. I guess that's a balanced platform, of a sense.

The flier has sparked a little bit of back-and-forth between Litster and his opponent, TJ Thomson.

Boise's election turnout: 30 percent or bust?

Kevin Richert — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:40:49 -0400

I want to be proven wrong — honest.

But I'm going to predict that come Tuesday, we'll see the lowest turnout this decade for a general election in Boise.

The magic number is 30 percent. That was the turnout in 2007, when Mayor Dave Bieter and City Council incumbents Elaine Clegg, David Eberle and Alan Shealy were re-elected. It also represents the turnout in 2005, the last time Boise had only council races on the ballot.

The Boise City Council money race: Thomson ... in a landslide

Kevin Richert — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:38:52 -0400

TJ Thomson has outraised the other seven candidates for Boise City Council.

Combined.

According to some eye-popping numbers at the city of Boise's website, Thomson has raised $48,921.27 in his bid to succeed Jim Tibbs on the council.

The other candidates have raised a total of $33,867.

Aside from the numbers, not many surprises here. In ths nominally nonpartisan race, Thomson continues to draw from a base of union and Democratic support.