COEUR d'ALENE - If the process of gaining institutional knowledge were a martial art, Chris Carlson would have a black belt.

Carlson's insights about Idaho politics come from years on the front line, and now, in his new book "Medimont Reflections," Carlson shares some new stories and fresh observations on some old controversies.

The idea for the collection of essays came to him, he said, as he was looking at a collection of his old columns that his wife, Marcia, had put together "so they wouldn't fade into dust."

"I was struck by the fact that I wrote about things 40 years ago that were still not resolved today. These issues are still being debated," Carlson said. "The more I delved into it, the more interesting it became."

Known to many Idaho newspaper readers as a prolific columnist, Carlson served for nine years as the former press secretary and a top aide to four-term Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus, following him to Washington, D.C., when Andrus was appointed Secretary of the Interior. His last book was an Andrus biography.

His original thought, he said, had been to publish the old columns as a collection.

Carlson said his publisher, Randy Stapilus of Ridenbaugh Press, convinced him that people would want more and suggested he use the columns as the basis for his book, but also bring readers up to speed on the issues, telling people what his thoughts were when he first wrote about them, and what his thoughts are now.

He recalls efforts to protect Hells Canyon and create the Birds of Prey conservation area in southern Idaho. Carlson writes about the career of Sen. Frank Church, and devotes a chapter to influential women in Idaho politics, including some Kootenai County notables - Sandy Patano, Ruthie Johnson, MaryLou Reed and Louise Shadduck.

A chapter is devoted to the Mormon influence in Idaho politics, a topic many people will be interested in, he said, but one few are willing to discuss openly.

Carlson was the first Idaho appointee to the Northwest Power Planning Council, and in writing about the group now, Carlson calls for abolishing the entity because it has not done what it was created to do - protect and enhance wild salmon and steelhead runs in the Columbia River basin.

Between 2002 and 2012, a staggering $7.3 billion has been spent on projects that have failed to protect the fish populations, he said.

"They really have not made a damn bit of difference," he said.

He calls for breaching the dams on the Snake River.

"I think the environmental community is correct, that you get a natural river there and those runs will come back," Carlson said.

The Port of Lewiston is a failure as a port, he said, with huge subsidies going into maintaining it, while the Port of Tacoma is becoming the primary port for wheat exports to the Orient.

A 10-year snow water flood event could overlap the dikes around Lewiston, he said, flooding the downtown area, creating an economic catastrophe because there is no good system in place to extricate the water from around the dikes.

"It ain't worth keeping the port. It ain't worth keeping the dams," he said. "I hope it reinvigorates the debate."

He doesn't just make suggestions in his book. Carlson also provides thoughts on making changes that could resolve some of those old, still debated issues.

"Medimont Reflections" includes a foreward by Carlson's former boss, Andrus, who writes that Carlson wants his readers to be informed, to discover things they never knew about the familiar issues and people featured in the book.

Andrus penned: "He candidly concedes he likes to quote H.L. Mencken, a legendary Baltimore Sun editor at the turn of the last century, whose purpose was 'to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.'

"Medimont Reflections" is published by Ridenbaugh Press and is available at www.ridenbaugh.com and at selected Idaho book stores.

Chris Carlson will be in Coeur d'Alene today for two signing events. He will be at Hastings, 101 E. Best Ave., at 4 p.m.

A reception and book signing will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Studio 107, 503 E. Sherman Ave.

If you go

Chris Carlson will be in Coeur d'Alene today for two signing events for his new book "Medimont Reflections." He will be at Hastings, 101 E. Best Ave., at 4 p.m.

A reception and book signing will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Studio 107, 503 E. Sherman Ave.