Thread: ID: Primary to decide GOP contender (Sali)

magicvalley.com 5/24/08
Primary to decide GOP contender
By TODD DVORAK

BOISE, Idaho - The last time Bill Sali competed in a primary election, he was one of six Republicans courting voters in Idaho's 1st Congressional District.

The political landscape is a lot less crowded this year than in 2006 when Sali won the GOP nomination with 26 percent of the votes en route to beating Democrat Larry Grant by 5 percentage points and getting the job of representing western Idaho in Congress.

Bolstered by a cash advantage and the clout that comes with incumbency, Sali seems nonchalant about having to spend time and resources competing in another nominating contest, this time against Matt Salisbury.

"I'm not surprised to face a challenger," said Sali, a lawyer and former state lawmaker from Kuna. "The majority of campaigns during my career, I've had a primary challenger. Competition is a good thing."

So is giving voters some options when they head to the polls Tuesday, said Salisbury, an Iraq veteran making his first bid for elected office.

Sali is heavily favored to win the nomination, setting up what is shaping up to be a heated contest against Democrat Walt Minnick in November.

As of last month, Sali reported raising $495,396, with three-fourths of that from political action committees, compared to just $41,284 for Salisbury, according to the latest Federal Election Committee filings.

Salisbury, 35, said he understands his underdog role, and vowed from the start to avoid negative attacks to gain ground on Sali.

Salisbury acknowledges his brand of conservatism mirrors Sali's. The Idaho Statesman, the state's biggest newspaper, cited those similarities as part of its reasoning for not endorsing either candidate.

Salisbury contends his experience in Iraq and in business as a private consultant, and his intention to work with Democrats would make him a more effective voice in a House chamber where the GOP is in the minority. He served in Iraq from 2004-05.

"We are facing unique times and we are facing some very critical problems," said Salisbury, a father of three and veteran party activist.

"My experience as a soldier in Iraq ... my experience starting out as a small business owner, national businessman ... gave me a set of skills and leadership ability that I want to offer the people of Idaho," he said.

His top priorities include fixing the economy and immigration and making health care more affordable and accessible. He is against abortion and favors a major overhaul of No Child Left Behind, the education reform policy of the Bush Administration.

The immigration system needs fixing, including better border security, a guest worker program that allows motivated foreign workers to earn citizenship, and a system to allow workers to pool resources to pay insurance, Salisbury said. He said those ideas stem from recognizing the need for foreign labor in Idaho and nationwide.

"Illegal immigration is a massive drag and we are staggering under the burden of benefits and services that shouldn't be paid out," Salisbury said.

Sali has also made immigration a campaign priority. The district includes Canyon County, the center of the state's biggest and fastest-growing Hispanic population.

Sali said he is ironing out details of an immigration reform plan, but declined to share details or say when it would be announced.

He hinted it will likely call for tougher borders, tighter immigration enforcement and no amnesty-type programs. He also said foreign workers should be required to learn English and American history.

"Why do they want to come here if they simply want to turn it into some other place?" Sali said.

There is also a congressional record for voters to consider, Sali said. However, during his tenure, none of the nine bills he sponsored were approved and just two of the 207 he co-sponsored passed, according to OpenCongress.org.

Sali said it was difficult for a freshman Republican to get meaty measures passed when Democrats control the House. He cites smaller victories, such as winning citations for veterans, securing funding for highway projects or stepping in to block a government plan to expand a rifle and pistol ban at the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area.

"It's been difficult for me to do the things I'd like to," Sali said.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)

http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/200 ... rjmu09.txt

Sali is a good guy. He is also VEHEMENTLY against opening a Mexican consulate here.

I am voting for him.

As a matter of fact, today, Saturday, me and hubby are going out door to door to campaign for Sali, Fulcher, Vander Woude, and Bayer (the last 3 are for Idaho state legislature). All are Repubs.

Senator Fulcher (incumbent) was at my house yesterday, dropping off the flyers! What an honor! If he wins, he wants to sit down with me and hubby to discuss what can be done for Idaho at the state level to fight illegal immigration. Please pray he wins!

Great work Ex-OC!