Otter earns Idaho's trust

The past couple years haven't been a stroll through City Park for Idahoans.

Many of us lost jobs. Almost everyone else lost pay, benefits or both. Because our state was lashed by the long whip of the worst recession since the Great Depression, education funding and, hence, many teachers, found less in their accounts this year than last year. That had never happened before.

So who do you blame? Democrat Keith Allred tells us that to a large degree, the fault lies at the doorstep of Gov. Butch Otter. We would argue that because of Gov. Otter, the bad times have not been far worse, and the good times are much closer.

Make no mistake: Our state's and nation's difficulties aren't over. Most experts agree that 2011 will bring another fiscally challenging year, and that it might be 2012 before the sun begins to shine steadily again. Our question to you is, who would you rather have captaining the state's ship: someone who has never held public office or the man who has balanced Idaho's budget and prepared the state to be a national leader in ascension from the recession's effects?

We strongly endorse Butch Otter because of his proven leadership and, frankly, because he personifies what we love about Idaho.

Otter is a rugged individualist who throws caution to the wind when he bucks broncos yet meticulously manages your hard-earned tax dollars. He's an entrepreneur, someone with a CEO's background and mentality and a super salesman's keen eye and thick skin. He's fearless in personally recruiting businesses from neighboring states, selling them on Idaho's lifestyle and business-friendly environment. He's rock solid in his determination to keep Idaho's tax structure optimal for businesses not just to survive, but to thrive. He understands that a good education is key to a good job, but he also knows the difference between spending wisely and spending lavishly.

Otter is old-school where it matters most. He preaches personal responsibility and practices it, too. He's fond of saying that the only hand you can always count on to help you up is at the end of your own sleeve. We need his perspective and energy if we're going to keep taxes low, the budget balanced and all state departments effective and efficient.

Keith Allred says many of the right things. Butch Otter does them. He has since 1973 as state representative, lieutenant governor, U.S. congressman and, for the past four years, governor. And he'll do the right things for the next four years, too.

We urge you to join us in re-electing C.L. "Butch" Otter as governor of our great state.