Endorsement: Crowded field for Democrats to choose from in Boise’s District 16 | Opinion
Democratic voters have an embarrassment of riches in District 16 when it comes to candidates running for the Idaho House of Representatives, Seat B.
Todd Achilles, Jonathan Chu, Nikson Mathews and Wayne Richey are all seeking the seat.
Richey, who has run for Boise mayor and City Council, is a likable guy, and it’s undeniable that his No. 1 issue — the lack of affordable housing in the Treasure Valley — is a pressing problem. But, frankly, he’s not a candidate with serious solutions to the problems.
That leaves us with three highly qualified candidates, and this board struggled to choose among them.
The candidates didn’t differ much on the issues, and all toed the party line on abortion, library book bans, guns in schools, funding for public education and opposition to school vouchers.
Democratic voters in District 16 won’t have anything to worry about being represented by any one of these candidates, and any of the three would be good House members.
But since you, the voter, have to make a selection of just one, we must make that difficult decision as well.
The Idaho Statesman editorial board endorses Todd Achilles for representative in the Idaho House in District 16, Seat B.
Our vote was not unanimous, given the strong field.
Mathews is a very strong candidate. Mathews is a transgender man, and representation matters. It’s important to have a legislator who has firsthand knowledge about the experience of being transgender, which is the target of so much bad, hateful legislation from majority Republicans.
Mathews also showed a strong grasp of many areas of public policy and has experience in the Legislature as an advocate, which would help make him effective in office.
Chu seems to have paid a good amount of attention to the 2024 session. His answers were solid, and he genuinely wants to fill the seat.
Chu’s biggest strength is his experience as a doctor, which is sorely needed in the Legislature. It’s clear that lawmakers don’t listen to outside experts nearly as much as they should and instead rely on the views of individual legislators, so it’s more important than ever to have a medical expert in the Idaho Statehouse.
We feel Chu would be a good colleague to his caucus members and would work diligently to stay informed about issues and constituent needs.
Achilles, an Army veteran, tech executive and now public policy teacher at Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, is the most polished and eloquent, and he provided the most detailed answers on policy questions, likely in part because he has already served as a legislator, filling in most of this session for Colin Nash, who vacated the seat when he was elected to the Boise City Council.
Achilles is passionate, and we suspect that he has grander aspirations in politics and is motivated to build a record of effectiveness. We think he can. We could easily foresee a run for governor in his future.
Democratic voters in District 16 can’t go wrong with Achilles, Mathews or Chu, but Achilles gets our nod in this race.
This story was originally published May 17, 2024 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, newsroom editors Dana Oland and 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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