Former Idaho House speaker to give address

COEUR d'ALENE - Former Idaho House Speaker Lawerence Denney said he'll be the keynote speaker at this year's local Republicans' Lincoln Day dinner and annual fundraiser.

"It's an honor to be invited," Denney said Monday. "I'll mostly talk about the Constitution and states' rights."

Denney, 64, a Midvale Republican, is starting his 10th term in the Idaho House. He spent six years as Speaker of the House, before being replaced late last year by Scott Bedke, R-Oakley.

The dinner and fundraiser is scheduled for March 8.

Longtime Kootenai County Republican precinct committeewoman Ruthie Johnson said of Denney's invite, "I think he'd be fine."

Last year, some members of the county's Republican Party didn't approve of the selected keynote speaker, Richard Mack.

Mack was a former sheriff in Arizona and occasional speaker on the national Tea Party circuit.

More than a dozen members of the Republican central committee signed a letter to party leaders opposing Mack's appearance.

Mack still ended up speaking at the event last March and approximately 400 people showed up to hear from him at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.

Like previous years, the fundraiser this year also will be attended by other state and federal elected officials from Idaho. Some of them also will address the audience.