GOP, Demos plan Friday events in Cd'A

COEUR d’ALENE — Cinco de Mayo promises to be more about politics than partying this year in North Idaho.

On Friday, Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) will host a town hall meeting with constituents at 6:30 p.m. at Lake City High School in Coeur d’Alene. Earlier in the day, he will hold a similar gathering in Lewiston.

Meanwhile, across town at the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn, the Kootenai County Democrats will hold their 2017 Democracy Dinner. Idaho House of Representatives Minority Leader Mat Erpelding (D-Boise) will be the keynote speaker at the dinner and fundraiser that runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Labrador, who represents Idaho’s Congressional District 1, typically holds several town hall gatherings each year. He is the first Idaho member of Congress to hold such a meeting with constituents since Trump took office. Labrador held two town hall meetings — one in Meridian and one in Nampa — during the last two weeks of April.

The competing dinner event being hosted Friday by the Democrats in Coeur d’Alene won’t keep progressive activists away from Labrador’s meeting at Lake City High School.

Teuvo Orjala, a leader of the North Idaho Indivisible group, said they will be at the town hall, and they plan to be heard.

“Indivisible North Idaho will send a strong message to Raul Labrador that we are clear with the difference between what he says and what he does for the citizens of Idaho,” Orjala said. “Raul’s skills as a lawyer have served him well in misleading the constituents of our great state. Idahoans who follow his voting record are appalled. Human-caused climate change is a fact. Health care is a right. Friday he will leave Coeur d’Alene clear that a growing number in North Idaho do not support the immorality and hypocrisy embodied by his leadership any longer.”

At Labrador’s April 19 meeting in Meridian, many who attended had similar sentiments. But the congressman faced the crowd of roughly 900 people, a group described as combative and angry, for more than three hours. He was slated to speak for 90 minutes. The main questions and complaints raised by constituents dealt with the Trump administration and health care.

Labrador spoke April 24 to a crowd of about 350 in Nampa. Although that group is described as having been more subdued and supportive of the congressman’s positions, there were some dissenters. The main issue discussed was health care.

Brent Regan, head of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, said Democrats and Indivisible members have been respectful and positive in their attendance at recent legislative town halls held in Kootenai County.

“I absolutely support their right to attend and encourage them to do so. Much of the vitriol on the left is based on false claims and exaggerations,” Regan said. “The best way to get to the truth is to meet with our elected officials and hear what they have to say. I attended the Democrats’ town hall at the Coeur d’Alene Library earlier this year. While I didn’t agree with some of what was said I did take the time to listen and I encourage others to do the same.”

Friday’s political events in Coeur d’Alene

Raul Labrador Town Hall - 6:30 p.m., Lake City High School, 6101 N. Ramsey Road, Coeur d’Alene. Free and open to the public.

North Idaho Democracy Dinner - 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m., Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn, 506 W. Appleway Ave., Coeur d’Alene. Tickets: $50 per person. Today is the last day to reserve a seat. Info: kootenaidemocrats.org