Today’s editorial in the Moscow-Pullman Daily News notes Douglas Wilson’s political influence in the 2016 primary: His candidate prevailed “by a mere 195 votes.” However small the number, the larger point goes unstated — namely, Douglas Wilson is a political animal who uses his “cult” (his word) as a voting bloc to advance his political agenda.
These posts are related:
- Moscow-Pullman Daily News: “Christ Church connection may have been enough to ensure primary win” (May 19, 2016)
- Moscow-Pullman Daily News editorial: “Wilson proves his clout by getting win for Berglund” (May 21, 2016)
- Idaho Representative Paulette Jordan defeats Carl Berglund (September 9, 2016)
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OUR VIEW
Get out and vote — it will make a difference
Only 4,465 Latah County residents voted during the 2016 primary — an election featuring a divisive and tightly contested presidential race.
That amounts to only 21.7 percent of the registered voters in the county.
In Benewah County, which, along with Latah County, makes up Idaho’s 5th Legislative District, turnout was 18 percent.
Your vote always matters, but when turnout is so low, a handful of ballots cast in one direction, or a small organized effort, can decide an election.
Such was the case on the Republican ballot in the 2016 primary. In the race for 5th District House Seat A, Moscow resident Bill Goesling was defeated by far-right candidate Carl Berglund — who had the support of Christ Church Pastor Douglas Wilson, who openly called for members of his church to support Berglund — by a mere 195 votes. Goesling carried Latah County by nearly 100 votes, but was defeated in Benewah 430-145. Berglund lost months later to Paulette Jordan, D-Plummer, in the general election.
While no candidate will officially punch his or her ticket to Boise or Washington, D.C., today, the winners’ names will appear on the November general election ballot.
On the Democratic side, Jordan is now running for governor against A.J. Balukoff, a Boise businessman. If Jordan wins, she will face the winner of a crowded Republican ticket — featuring a founding member of the Freedom Caucus, U.S. Rep. Raúl Labrador; the establishment candidate, Lt. Gov. Brad Little; and the outsider, Tommy Ahlquist — in November.
Voters will also consider replacements for Labrador in D.C., and there are challenged races for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction and state treasurer. Republicans have four candidates running for county treasurer.
Just as important, voters in Latah and Benewah counties will be thinning the candidates for three seats in the state Legislature.
For House Seat A, Goesling once again is facing a far-right opponent, Hari Heath, who admits to not paying taxes for 10 years as he hid from law enforcement and avoided serving a prison sentence for interfering with the official duties of the U.S. Forest Service. Heath says his evasion was justified because his constitutional rights were violated.
In the 5th District Senate race, moderate Marshall Comstock, a former mayor of Moscow, is challenging incumbent Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Viola, who has labeled Moscow a “cesspool of liberalism.” Foreman was elected in 2016 by just 336 votes.
Regardless of the candidates you support, we encourage you to get out and vote today. Your vote matters.
— Devin Rokyta, for the editorial board
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