A call for Republican unity in Idaho

COEUR d'ALENE — At a special meeting Tuesday night, the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee adopted a resolution with language intended to send Gov. Butch Otter a message.

The "Call For Party Unity" resolution said the governor and Idaho Republican Party Chairman Steve Yates should suspend "any statewide activities designed to influence the elections of precinct committeemen," according to a copy of the resolution.

The resolution cited Otter's political action committee, Otter PAC.

"Efforts by the governor to influence the people's selection of their precinct committeemen are corrosive to party unity, (are) outside the sworn duties of the governor, and contrary to the ideals of the Republican Party," the resolution stated.

Central Committee member Duane Rasmussen said he opposed the resolution.

"It attacks our governor," Rasmussen said Wednesday. "The governor is the head of our party. That shows disunity on their part. We ought to support our governor."

Neil Oliver, chairman of the central committee, said the resolution was approved by a voice vote by a majority of the 44 voting members present and a number of proxies for members who could not attend the meeting.

Approval only required a simple majority.

"We were well over that," Oliver said.

The resolution will be sent to Otter's office and to Yates, he said.

"We want them to see our side of it," he said.

Committee member Bjorn Handeen voted for the resolution, saying the governor shouldn't try and influence grassroots, precinct-level politics.

"With that much power invested in him by the voters, it's bad form," Handeen said. "I say that as someone who will probably benefit from his Otter PAC."