The race for Idaho Attorney General is causing party lines to blur
Arkoosh will be facing Idaho Attorney General Republican Nominee, and former Congressman, Raúl Labrador in the midterm election.
BOISE, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Many well-known Republican leaders from across Idaho have announced their support for Tom Arkoosh to be Idaho’s next Attorney General and they are urging other Republicans to join them. The group, Republicans for Arkoosh, announced their support for Arkoosh at a Boise news conference today. Former Deputy Attorney General Dave High, who spoke for the group, said that “Idaho needs a competent, ethical and respected lawyer to run the largest law office in the State of Idaho. Tom Arkoosh has the right stuff to do an excellent job.”
The group includes over 50 long-time Republicans, including former First Lady Lori Otter, Senators Patti Anne Lodge and Fred Martin, Representatives Fred Wood and Scott Syme, former Governor Phil Batt and former Senator Denton Darrington.
“I think these long time Republicans would like to go back to a time when the Attorney General’s office focused on the rule of law and are very frightened to enter a new era where the Attorney General’s office is driven by cultural issues regarding irrelevant chaos,” Arkoosh said.
Senator Patti Anne Lodge said: “Tom Arkoosh is the first candidate on the Democratic ticket I have supported in my 66 years of work with the Republican Party. I have always looked at the qualifications of the candidate. In this instance, I found Tom, an independent who has been recruited by a large group of Idaho voters, as the person who has the legal expertise, experience and administrative skills to operate the largest law firm in the state. His work with legislators and agencies on a variety of issues in a non-partisan manner and his ability to bring groups together in mediation will prove to benefit the State of Idaho and all her citizens.”
Former First Lady, Lori Otter, said: “The Attorney General should really be a non-partisan State official. We don’t hire our personal lawyer to give us political advice, but to make sure we operate lawfully and stay out of legal trouble. That’s what Tom Arkoosh had pledged to do for the State of Idaho.”
Ben Ysursa, who served 12 years as Idaho’s Secretary of State, said, “Being a life-long Republican, it’s hard to endorse a Democratic candidate. But Tom Arkoosh is clearly the better candidate. He’s known as a competent, ethical and highly experienced attorney, who strongly believes in the rule of law. Make no mistake, the rule of law, which has made this country the envy of the world, is under attack, both at the state and national level. Tom’s opponent has bought into the discredited ‘Big Lie’ about the 2020 presidential election. In the recent debate, he said ‘the election was stolen in plain sight.’ That is dangerous talk. It directly attacks the heart of our system of government. It has no place in the Idaho Attorney General’s office.”
Two long-time eastern Idaho water lawyers, Jerry Rigby of Rexburg and Randy Budge of Pocatello, said in a written endorsement: “Tom Arkoosh has broad experience in water law, which is absolutely essential in this time of drought and future uncertainty. Tom says Idaho’s water sparsity is everyone’s problem and that all users of Snake River water must work together to develop a long-term management plan that considers the legitimate interests of all concerned. Tom has pledged his participation and advocacy, which could help bring folks together to actually get something done.”
Jerry Evans, who served as Idaho’s Superintendent of Public Instruction for 16 years, but was unable to attend the announcement, said: “I know the danger that school voucher programs pose to our public schools. They divert taxpayer money that should be used to adequately fund Idaho’s public school system. I was pleased that Tom Arkoosh came out against voucher programs and in favor of better public-school funding in the recent debate. His opponent supported school choice– just another name for vouchers–which would open the public treasury for religious schooling. Labrador ignored Idaho’s Constitutional prohibition against using public money for religious schools. A competent lawyer would know better. The U.S. Supreme Court recently said, ‘A State need not subsidize private education. But once it decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious.’ Mr. Labrador needs to read the decision.”
Former State Treasurer Lydia Justice Edwards said she’d joined the group “based on Arkoosh’s pledge to run the office much like incumbent Lawrence Wasden has for the last 20 years. Tom Arkoosh knows the Attorney General’s office is the State’s law firm, not a political operation. The law is neither Republican nor Democrat. The people are the Attorney General’s clients and he must provide competent, non-biased legal advice and representation in order to keep the people’s government out of legal trouble.”
Representative Fred Wood of Burley was unable to attend the announcement, but asked that his endorsement be read. Wood said: “I decided to support Tom Arkoosh for Attorney General because he has a reputation as an accomplished lawyer. Tom is a known quantity around the State Capitol and is well respected. His experience as a county prosecutor and highly-regarded water lawyer will be valuable assets for the Attorney General’s office.”
David High, a long-time division chief in the AG’s office said: “The AG’s office must not favor political friends. Whether the Attorney General is reviewing the award of a state contract, evaluating a tax case, giving honest advice to the legislature, or deciding what cases to file, it is simply unacceptable to make decisions based upon what your political buddies tell you in a back room. Sadly, Raul Labrador has repeatedly pledged to run the office politically. No wonder that prior Republican Attorneys General refused to support him in the primary election. Fortunately, Tom Arkoosh has agreed to seek the office. He is not a career politician and has pledged to run the office in a non-partisan manner. I know Tom to be an attorney of the highest integrity and ability. He will serve us with honor and distinction and without political favoritism.”
Arkoosh welcomed the support of the group, saying he was “humbled that long-time Republicans would support a person running on the other party’s ticket. I’ve been an independent voter for most of my life. In my four decades of dealing with numerous agencies of government, I always thought the Attorney General’s office was supposed to be non-political. That is the way I intend to run that office. I admired and voted for Lawrence Wasden because he placed the law over politics and I think most of the members of Republicans for Tom Arkoosh did likewise. I’ll be an Attorney General for Idahoans of every political stripe. The law requires no less.”
Arkoosh added that he particularly admired Wasden’s pursuit of damages against large corporations that endangered the health and very lives of Idahoans. “Lawrence has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars from tobacco companies, opioid makers, vaping companies and others for the injuries they inflicted. Idaho has received over half a billion dollars from tobacco companies alone. My opponent said he would stop doing that; I’d go full steam ahead.”
Arkoosh will be facing Idaho Attorney General Republican Nominee, and former Congressman, Raúl Labrador in the midterm election. In a statement to KMVT Labrador said:
Idaho Republican Party Chair Dorothy Moon said in part:
Following are the members of: Republicans for Tom Arkoosh
Senator Patti Anne Lodge, Huston
Former Senator Denton Darrington, Declo
Alice Hennessey, prominent Ada County Republican, Boise
Shawn and Jennifer Ellis, ranchers, Blackfoot
D. Marc Haws, retired county, state and federal prosecutor, New Plymouth
William Boyd, mining lawyer, Coeur d’Alene
Former Senator Chuck Coiner, Twin Falls
Jerry Evans, former State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Boise
Former Representative Rich Wills, Glenns Ferry
Randy Budge, Pocatello water lawyer
Former Representative Max Black, Boise
Eric Peterson, former Chairman, Nez Perce County Republicans, Lewiston
Representative Fred Wood and Amy Wood, Burley
Tom Basabe, long-time Grand View Republican
Lydia Justice Edwards, former Idaho State Treasurer
Former Senator Bill Ringert, Boise
Jerry Rigby, Rexburg water lawyer
Former Representative Beverly Montgomery, Meridian
Gary Raney, former Ada County Sheriff
Former Representative Dean Haagenson and Cindy Haagenson, Coeur d’Alene
Former Representative Pam Ahrens, Boise
Steve Ahrens, former President, Idaho Assoc. of Commerce & Industry, Boise
Dale Storer, Idaho Falls municipal law exert
Jim and Camille Cox, long-time Twin Falls Republicans
Former Representative Jerry Deckard, Boise
Mike Otter, retired Meridian Republican
Former Senator Joe Stegner, Lewiston
Former Representative Bob Fry of Horseshoe Bend
Billie Siddoway, former Teton County Prosecuting Attorney
Former Senator Laird Noh and Kathleen Noh, Twin Falls
Robert Farnam, Idaho Falls attorney
Former Representative George Eskridge, Dover
Geoff Thomas, long-time Superintendent, Madison School District, Rexburg
Bud Yost, long-time Nampa attorney, Nampa
Former Representative Leon Smith and Jan Mittleider, Twin Falls
Representative Scott Syme, Caldwell
Ben Ysursa, former Idaho Secretary of State, Boise
Former Representative John A. “Bert” Stevenson, Rupert
Chuck Kroll, former Washington County Prosecuting Attorney
David High, former division chief, Idaho Attorney General Office, Boise
Robert E. Williams III, Jerome attorney
Jay Heward, former Sheriff of Cassia County
Jim Hawkins, former Idaho Director of Commerce, Boise
Senator Fred Martin, BoiseFormer Governor Phil Batt, Idaho human rights icon, Wilder
Lori Otter, Realtor and former First Lady of Idaho
-Original Story-
Many well-known Republican leaders from across Idaho are showing their support for a Democratic challenger in this upcoming midterm election.
Democratic Attorney General candidate Tom Arkoosh is receiving support from over 50 long-time Republicans, including former First Lady Lori Otter. who said the Attorney General should really be a non-partisan state official.
Senator Patti Anne-Lodge said Arkoosh is the first candidate on the Democratic ticket she has supported in her 66 years of work with the Republican Party.
Arkoosh is welcoming the support of the group, saying he was humbled that long-time Republicans would support a person running on the other party’s ticket.
“I think these long time Republicans would like to go back to a time when the Attorney General’s office focused on the rule of law and are very frightened to enter a new era where the Attorney General’s office is driven by cultural issues regarding irrelevant chaos,” said Arkoosh.
Arkoosh will be facing Idaho Attorney General Republican Nominee, and former Congressman, Raúl Labrador in the midterm election.
On Tuesday, Labrador issued a response to Arkoosh’s press conference, saying quote...
“More than 140,500 Republicans endorsed me earlier this year with their vote for Attorney General. Since that time, thousands of other Republicans, Independents, and disaffected Democrats have expressed their support on social media. With digital contact, or in person as I campaign across Idaho. My opponent became a candidate through a backroom deal, and he is continuing to campaign only for the insiders. My campaign is not about backroom insiders, I am running to represent the people of Idaho by protecting their freedom, our state’s sovereignty and our shared Idaho values.”
Copyright 2022 KMVT. All rights reserved.
