Codi Galloway and Rick Just vie for District 15 Idaho House seat. Here’s our pick
The Idaho Statesman’s editorial board enthusiastically endorses Rick Just in the District 15 election.
Just has the temperament required for someone to be productive in the Senate. By longstanding tradition, the Senate has required more collaboration, more negotiation and more compromise to move legislation through. And that’s a good thing — it’s quite rare that one person or one party has all the right ideas.
Codi Galloway, the Republican running against Just, has not demonstrated such a temperament in her time in the Idaho House.
Just, a Democrat, would be effective in working with other senators and influencing legislation to work for the good, even though he would be in the minority party. He would help fill the gap left by the recent departure of many experienced, moderate Democrats in the Senate like Michelle Stennett, Cheri Buckner-Webb and Grant Burgoyne, who have helped to improve Idaho’s laws immeasurably through their years of service, despite being always outnumbered.
“There’s too little common sense over there,” Just said of the Legislature, which has lurched toward the far right in recent years. We agree.
And Just has unique credentials that would make him an effective advocate for one problem affecting people in the Treasure Valley in particular: the loss of access to public lands. Just served for decades as the spokesman for Idaho Parks and Recreation, which oversees state parks throughout Idaho. That gives him a familiarity with the intricate issues around public lands and imperiled lands access that Galloway can’t hold a candle to.
Galloway, on the other hand, has made her name backing extreme bills like HB 666, which would have put school librarians in criminal legal jeopardy and had a chilling effect on free speech and thought in schools. Book burning is not a stand for freedom — and it is genuinely frightening that some like Galloway seem to think that it is.
She also introduced what amounts to a voucher bill during the 2021 legislative session, a measure explicitly intended to deprive public schools of funding.
Just expressed clear opposition to such measures. He argued in favor of the radical position that librarians can be trusted to oversee libraries. He argued for expanding and carefully targeting school funding to improve the education system.
And that approach of legislative restraint is one that Just takes on a whole host of issues, including abortion. Idaho women are threatened by the most restrictive abortion ban in the country, one that a federal court already found could reasonably deny women access to ectopic pregnancy care if it were allowed to go into full effect.
Just thinks women, with the help of their doctors, can make their own decisions about their bodies and health care.
We gave Galloway a chance to explain her past votes to our editorial board, but she didn’t have the guts to show up for an interview. The Statesman doesn’t endorse candidates who will not agree to be interviewed. Galloway’s refusal in itself should give voters pause. Does a candidate without the backbone and commitment to transparency to answer a few questions really deserve to represent them?
This story was originally published October 25, 2022 at 4:00 AM.
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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