Jim Woodward, Mark Sauter are right for District 1

District 1 voters deserve the right to choose their own legislative representatives — free from the meddling of outside politicians and backroom politics.

Representative Jordon Redman’s (Hayden, wealthy developer and business owner) interference in our local primary races is deeply troubling. By funneling his outside money into District 1, Redman is not supporting democracy — he is attempting to override it. Redman is committing his own $250K to support/oppose the legislators HE wants to serve with (those he will control). When backroom dealings and imported cash are used to shape a primary, it tells you everything about who is pulling the strings — and nothing good.

But here's what it also tells us: candidates like Jim Woodward and Mark Sauter must be doing something right. You don't draw this kind of outside attention unless someone in Boise is worried. Redman’s interference endorses our current representatives. It signals that Woodward and MARK Sauter are independent voices who won't be controlled.

District 1 residents are perfectly capable of evaluating candidates on their own merits. We do not need outside politicians bankrolling campaigns to tell us what to think.

I urge voters to take note of who is trying to buy this primary — and vote accordingly.

BUTCH HORTON

Sandpoint, District 1