Republican former congressman Bill Sali is preparing for a rematch against Democratic Rep. Walt Minnick in 2010.

Sali filed a statement of candidacy Monday with the Federal Election Commission, taking on the same "Sali for Congress" name he used in his 2006 and 2008 campaigns.

Sali did not return phone calls Thursday to his home in Kuna. His former campaign spokesman declined comment.

Minnick spokesman John Foster said, “Walt’s solely focused on doing the best possible job he can for the 1st Congressional District. If he does a good job, the election will take care of itself.”

Other Republicans, including state Sen. John McGee of Caldwell, former state Controller Keith Johnson of Boise, and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden of Nampa, are also considering the race.

Tracey Wasden, Wasden’s wife and campaign manager, said she expects a decision on whether her husband will make the race “in the next few months.”

She said Wasden loves his job as attorney general, which he’s held since 2003, and still feels he has work to do. Were he to run for Congress in 2010, Wasden would have to give up the attorney’s general’s job.

“But he does realize how important this is for our state to get this congressional seat back in Republican hands, and we’ll do what we can to make that happen,” Tracey Wasden said.

Johnson said a Sali candidacy would not influence his decision. “We’re keeping our options open and looking at the possibility, but I’m not ready to say one way or another.”

Johnson works for Oracle Corp., helping sell software to state and local governments. He travels extensively and said he would have to make arrangements with his employer to become a candidate. He also said he’s watching the local and national political scene. “I obviously want to see how Minnick does and see how the Republican Party is doing.”

McGee, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, said: “Right now, I’m focused on my duties as a state senator, particularly working to solve the transportation problems of this state. I’ve not made any decisions, other than focusing on my duties until the end of the session.”

McGee and his wife, Hanna, recently had their first child, Madalyn, who will be five months old Friday. “My focus is on my family and my role as a state senator," he said. "That’s very, very honest.”

As of Nov. 24, Sali reported campaign debts of about $124,000. Minnick reported $395,000 in debt, $250,000 of which is a loan from himself.

Ordinarily, candidates file a statement of candidacy after having raised or spent $5,000 toward the next election. Sali did not have to file for 2010 to raise money to retire his debt.

Sali won a six-way GOP primary in 2006 and defeated Democrat Larry Grant with 50 percent of the vote to Grant's 45 percent in the general election. But he served only one term. Minnick, running as a conservative Democrat, defeated Sali 51 percent to 49 percent in November.

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Dan Popkey: 377-6438