Fulcher expects a fight in November

COEUR d’ALENE — Quick: Who’s the Democrat running against Republican Russ Fulcher to be your next congressman?

In blood red North Idaho it shouldn’t be surprising that the name Cristina McNeil is virtually unknown. In winning the Democratic nomination in May, McNeil spent roughly $2,000 on her entire campaign — an amount many congressional candidates spend in a day or even an hour. And according to news reports, she’s not exactly burning up the campaign trail this summer.

But during his meeting Monday afternoon with The Press editorial board, Fulcher said he’s taking the challenge seriously.

“She’s going to draw a demographic you don’t normally see,” said the 56-year-old Fulcher, who cruised to victory in the Republican primary over six challengers, including Coeur d’Alene’s Luke Malek. “It’s an issue because there’s going to be a flood of money coming into the state.”

Fulcher acknowledged the concern is based largely on the popularity of gubernatorial candidate Paulette Jordan, who crushed opponent A.J. Balukoff in the primary and is bidding to become the first Native American governor in U.S. history and Idaho’s first woman governor.

Fulcher said Jordan will attract dollars from Hollywood, East Coast liberal-leaning organizations and tribal interests. Many of those factions and their targets will fall in line with McNeil, he predicted.

While his opponent focuses largely on social issues much like Bernie Sanders did in his 2016 presidential run, Fulcher said he’s sticking mostly to meat-and-potato matters like jobs, the economy, health care and, yes, immigration.

He expressed strong support for President Donald Trump’s insistence on building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, based on Fulcher’s experience over more than two decades as an executive with Micron Technologies in Boise. Fulcher traveled internationally during that time and saw the importance of border security around the world.

“I agree with him [President Trump] — and by the way, so do the people of Idaho,” Fulcher said.

Asked how he’s different from outgoing U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador, who lost his bid for governor in the Idaho primary, Fulcher said he and Labrador agree on many things philosophically.

“How we go about doing things is different,” he said, pointing to having had more success taking a collaborative approach to solving problems.

“There are times when it’s appropriate to exit a room with your middle finger extended but it’s never appropriate to enter a room with your middle finger extended,” Fulcher said.

On health care, Fulcher said he opposes Medicaid expansion and instead prefers to “empower the free market.” A serious motorcycle accident right after his primary election win racked up medical bills of nearly $200,000 — and changed his perspective after spending eight days in two hospitals working with 13 different providers, he said.

“Maybe that’s God’s way of saying, ‘OK, hot shot. If you’re going to be making decisions in this arena, maybe you’d better experience it,’” Fulcher said.

Asked what North Idahoans can expect from their congressman if he’s elected in November, Fulcher promised he’d be no stranger to the north. Somewhere down the road, he hinted at more than visits when coming back to Idaho from Washington, D.C.

“I love it here,” he said of the greater Coeur d’Alene area. “There will be a time quite possibly when I’m living here.”

First priority, however, would be properly staffing a North Idaho office and ensuring strong communication with all his constituents in Congressional District 1.

“People will know I’m engaged and I care,” he said.

Fulcher also talked with the editorial board about bridges he’s built with political people he didn’t know well or at all, including U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho. While they now might disagree on some issues, Fulcher said, they’re already talking often and working toward forging a strong Idaho delegation in Congress along with Sen. Jim Risch and Sen. Mike Crapo. All are Republicans.

As if to back up his talk about building collaboration, Fulcher’s editorial board meeting was shortened because of another commitment. At 5 p.m. Monday, he was due to appear at a Fulcher fundraising event being hosted by Malek, a former opponent now working hard for Fulcher’s election.

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ABOUT RUSS FULCHER

Russ Fulcher was appointed by Gov. Dirk Kempthorne in 2005 to finish the state Senate term for Idaho’s 21st Legislative District. Fulcher then was elected to that seat from 2006 to 2012, when he then served District 22 for one term. He ran unsuccessfully against incumbent Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter in 2014, but the race was closer than many had predicted, with Fulcher earning 44 percent of the vote.

Fulcher grew up on a Meridian dairy farm and worked for Micron Technology in Boise doing international sales. Once he was in elected office, Fulcher switched to commercial real estate, which he continues today. He owns a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Boise State University.

Fulcher and his wife, Kara, have three children.