I am concerned over the smear tactics used in the last Republican primary — and concerned that we might see a repeat in the upcoming midterm election.

For instance, Jim Woodward has been our state senator to the Idaho Legislature from District 1 for the last two terms, doing an outstanding job representing Boundary County and part of Bonner County. But I was dismayed to see that such an excellent senator was defeated in the recent Republican primary by what I considered to be a smear campaign by his opponent.

I have known Jim Woodward for many years and closely followed his four years in the Senate in Boise — so I realized that the 18 or so slick cartoon-type postcards sent out by his opponent were untruths and gross exaggerations about Jim.

But I did not realize what an impact this propaganda had until after Jim lost. I started talking to people and discovered they voted against Jim because of it.

I was so sad because I knew they had been fooled. I would have been fooled too, it looked so believable — if I had not known Jim and talked to him frequently about these issues. Jim fought back but people were already deceived.

Will this tactic be used in the upcoming mid-term election? Be on guard if you get postcards with pictures of a candidate with a balloon-type “quote” of something you think they would probably never say … or if the card resorts to belittling and name-calling.

So I hope you will join me in writing in Steve Johnson on the blank line (below the printed name) on the ballot for District 1 - State Senator –and then filling in the little oval beside Steve's name. I have spoken in person with Steve Johnson (an independent write-in) — and am convinced he is the best candidate for this important seat.


JO LEN EVERHART

Bonners Ferry