Endorsement: One candidate is the most qualified to be Idaho’s next secretary of state
The job of Idaho secretary of state requires someone who approaches it from a practical standpoint of pulling off fair and secure elections while at the same time ensuring that anyone who wants to vote has ample opportunity.
Their duties should not become a vehicle for political grandstanding.
With eight-year incumbent Lawerence Denney not seeking reelection, Idaho voters have an opportunity to select a new person to fill that position.
Ada County Clerk Phil McGrane, Idaho Rep. Dorothy Moon, R-Stanley, and Idaho Sen. Mary Souza, R-Coeur d’Alene, are running in the Republican primary. The winner will face Democrat Shawn Keenan of Coeur d’Alene in November.
The Idaho Statesman editorial board endorses McGrane for his vast election experience, his level-headed approach to election integrity and his knowledge of other facets of the job.
Moon and Souza did not respond to multiple invitations to participate in interviews with the editorial board, a concerning portent of how they’d behave if elected. The editorial board will not endorse a candidate who does not agree to an interview.
Regardless, Moon and Souza have shown, through their work in the Idaho Legislature, that they would approach the job politically. Both proposed this session election legislation that would have disenfranchised an untold number of legitimate voters, including students and military members.
Moon has taken it even a step further.
“There (are) a lot of reports of people coming from Canada that I’ve been hearing just after coming back from Coeur d’Alene last night, that have been coming over and voting,” Moon speculated on the House floor.
Moon and Souza both said during their statewide televised debate that they don’t believe Joe Biden legitimately won the 2020 presidential election. McGrane affirmed that he believes Biden was duly elected.
McGrane is a self-described “elections junkie.” He’s been doing elections work since 2005, when he was hired by Ada County to count punch cards and recruit poll workers. He’s led the state’s largest county election office since being elected Ada County clerk in 2018. Before that, he was chief deputy clerk.
He is chair of the Elections Committee for the Idaho Association of County Recorders and Clerks, a role that put him front and center and before the Idaho Legislature frequently during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As I like to joke on the campaign trail, I can either bore or entertain people with elections information,” McGrane told the Idaho Statesman editorial board. “And it’s because I just have a passion for this work.”
McGrane points out that being secretary of state is a hands-on job when it comes to elections, and it’s important that the person in this position have experience executing elections.
“When county clerks call the Secretary of State’s Office for assistance, they’re not calling because everything’s just going smoothly,” McGrane said. “They’re calling because they need support and help from the state.”
McGrane is a proponent of expanding options for voting. Under his leadership, Ada County leads the state by offering a mobile voting van that sets up shop in various cities around the county. He’s argued in favor of making available the option of voting in any polling place, not just a voter’s home precinct. He supports mail-in ballots and absentee ballot drop boxes. He supports signed affidavits as a form of ID for same-day registration, with some changes to strengthen security.
McGrane is clear-eyed and balanced when it comes to elections.
“One of the biggest things I find frustrating is the narratives that are going on nationally,” McGrane said. “So it’s either the narrative that the election was stolen, (and) there’s rampant voter fraud on one end, or equally frustrating can be the narrative that there is absolutely no voter fraud and no examples of it. Neither of those are true.”
He voices confidence in the integrity and security of Idaho’s elections system, but he also acknowledges the changes and challenges brought about by technology and the importance of cybersecurity.
McGrane is the right person to address those challenges.
We were also encouraged to hear McGrane’s support for transparency, a vital position for the secretary of state to take.
“I’ve been a very big proponent of just open government and transparency,” McGrane said. “I’ve spoken and participated in (Idahoans for Openness in Government) events, to share what transparency can look like in government. I think the Secretary of State’s Office needs to take a leadership role in promoting openness in government.”
McGrane also is well-versed in the other responsibilities: expanding transparency in campaign finance and lobbyist reporting, and as a member of the Idaho Land Board, which manages Idaho’s endowment lands for the benefit of public education in Idaho.
It’s no surprise that McGrane is supported by three former governors and former popular Republican Secretary of State Ben Ysursa, who is McGrane’s campaign chairman.
We share their endorsement and recommend Phil McGrane to be Idaho’s next secretary of state.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHow we write endorsements
Who decides the endorsements?
Members of Idaho Statesman editorial board interview political candidates, as well as advocates and opponents of ballot measures. The editorial board is composed of journalists and community members. Members of the Statesman editorial board are: Statesman editor Chadd Cripe, opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, assistant editor Jim Keyser and community members John Hess, Debbie McCormick and Julie Yamamoto.
What does the endorsement process entail?
The Statesman editorial board meets with political candidates and asks them a series of questions about policy issues. The editorial board discusses the candidates in each race. Board members seek to reach a consensus on the endorsements, but not every decision is unanimous. The editorial board generally will not endorse a candidate who does not agree to an interview with the board members.
Is the editorial board partisan?
No. In making endorsements, members of the editorial board consider which candidates are well-prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, their readiness for office, their depth of knowledge of key issues and their understanding of public policy. We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points. The editorial board will endorse both Republicans and Democrats. We make recommendations about who the best-qualified candidates for these jobs are.
Why are endorsements unsigned?
Endorsements reflect the collective views of the Statesman’s editorial board — not just the opinion of one writer. Board members all discuss and contribute ideas to each endorsement editorial.
Do I have to vote for the candidate the Statesman endorses?
Of course not. An endorsement is just our recommendation based on the candidates’ backgrounds and their answers to editorial board questions.
Can I disagree with the Statesman’s endorsement?
Of course you can. We encourage voters to do their own research and choose the candidate who best represents your views.
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Readers are encouraged to express their thoughts by submitting a letter to the editor. Click on “Submit a letter or opinion” at idahostatesman.com/opinion.
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