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CHRIS CARLSON Carlson Chronicles |
Governor C. L. “Butch†Otter brought his “dog and pony†show called Capital For A Day to St. Maries on July 21st. My, oh my, how it has changed since Governor Cecil D. Andrus, who initiated the program in 1973, and I walked the streets of the temporary “capital†(usually a county seat).
No entourage. No security detail. No advance team. No “show and tell.†No setting up a town hall meeting and expecting the citizens to come to us.
Nope. Just Cece and I, popping in and out of various businesses on Main Street, chatting with the owner and asking if they were having any difficult issues with any facet of state government. The day’s agenda usually included a noon speech at a Rotary or a Kiwanis Club and in the afternoon drop by visits to the local paper and other media to report on what he was hearing.
My role was to take notes, handle any media that might want to tag along and pass out the “Capital for A Day†post cards wherein folks could write a brief description of their issue and their contact info.
When we got back to Boise the governor would deal the cards out to appropriate staff with instructions to have an interim report back to the constituent within two weeks and a definitive answer within four weeks.
There was another significant difference. Once the Republicans selected their nominee to challenge Andrus in the August primary, the governor suspended the program.
“Butch†should take note and follow the Andrus lead. No matter how one slices it, or rationalizes it, to continue Capital For A Day in an election year after your opponent is selected is to have the taxpayers underwriting a campaign-like endeavor.
It's a clear "conflict of interest" and a clear illegal contribution to the governor's re-election effort by the taxpayer. Frankly, I'm amazed that no one has called Governor Otter out on this matter. State senator Russ Fulcher from Meridian should have confronted Governor otter on this in his closely contested primary challenge. (more…)