The City Club of Boise, an organization dedicated to bringing debate and civics discussions to the people of the Treasure Valley, is holding a debate between Republican Butch Otter and Democrat Keith Allred, two men vying to be Idaho’s next governor, and one lesser-known candidate is miffed at being snubbed by the group. Jana Kemp, an Independent candidate from Garden City, says the group should include all people in the running for the office. The group says that a Rasmussen poll helped determine who would appear at the event, but documentation obtained by IdahoReporter.com suggests that other reasons might have been behind the decision.
Club officials said that it used a July 21 poll issued by Rasmussen Reports to determine that only Otter and Allred would be able to debate in the hour-long forum, set for Sept. 15. The poll found that Otter held a 53-36 lead over Allred, with 4 percent of the 500 respondents polled favoring another candidate in the race. In an Aug. 6 letter to Kemp, City Club of Boise President Mikel Ward said that the group, following IRS guidelines, invited candidates who received support from 15 percent or more of survey respondents. “The latest poll meeting that criteria of which we are aware is the poll released by Rasmussen Reports on July 21, 2010,” wrote Ward to Kemp. “As a result, we have issued formal invitations to both Gov. Otter and Keith Allred.” When asked about the requirement by phone Wednesday, Ward confirmed the restriction. ”Yes, we used that (poll) to help us develop the criteria,” said Ward.
The letter and the statement by Ward contradict a letter sent from Martin L. Peterson, board member of the club, to Allred confirming his presence at the Sept. 15 debate. The letter, dated May 19, 2010, says that the club planned to only have Otter and Allred attend. ”The forum will feature the Republican and Democratic candidates for governor,” wrote Peterson.
Kemp began making a fuss about the issue Tuesday when, on her Facebook page and Twitter feed, she asked her supporters to e-mail the club and voice their displeasure with the decision. In a letter to IdahoReporter.com, Kemp said she was surprised by the decision. “As a Landmark Contributor to City Club of Boise I am shocked at the decision making process and cover-up used by the current City Club Board to justify their decision of whom to invite to the Sept. 15 gubernatorial Forum,” said Kemp. “I find it interesting that rather than owning up to their misdirected decision-making process the August 6 letter I received is a cover-up for their already in motion original invitation process.”
The debate, set for Sept. 15 in downtown Boise, will feature Otter and Allred, the two front-runners in the race, and will be moderated by Dr. Jim Weatherby, a respected political commentator. Kemp wasn’t the only lesser-known candidate snubbed by the board; Independent Pro-Life and Libertarian Ted Dunlap will also not be welcome at the forum.
Read Kemp’s full response to the group here: Jana Kemp’s City Club of Boise response letter
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jana Kemp, IdahoReporter.com and IdahoReporter.com, IdahoReporter.com. IdahoReporter.com said: Candidate @JanaKemp believes @CityClubof Boise may be covering up real reason for not inviting her to debate: http://bit.ly/cW5wvK [...]
Interesting, seems like Jana has a good point here… to be fair, all gubernatorial candidates should be invited to participate in all the debates held. The point of a debate is to hear from all sides, then voters can make educated decisions on which candidate they chose to vote for in the election process. Sounds like City Club needs to seriously re-consider their invitation list post haste.
On a personal note, way to go Jana! Looking out for voters’ best interests already! I hadn’t yet considered voting for you, but now I think I just might make a consideration on my vote. I’ll keep my eye on you now.
I think that any Idaho political debate that doesn’t include Pro-Life, whether he’s running for the office or not, is a waste of time.
I thought this was a democracy not a two party dictatorship!!! Please do the right thing and allow her to speak. All gubernatorial candidates should be invited to every debate. I know I can’t be the only one out there that feels this way!!!
Also it should be noted that Ms. Kemp has threatened the non-profit status of Catholic Charities of Idaho directly for not inviting her to an annual fundraising dinner held to poke fun at (and with) elected officials and candidates. The dinner may be postponed because of her threat of legal action. I hope this humorless politician is prepared to replace the $40,000 that would have been raised because she felt snubbed. Threats and intimidation – not a healthy platform to run for Governor in my estimation.
Let every candidate participate. We are tired of the two most powerful political parties getting all the limelight. Lets us have the choice and opportunity to decide for ourselves. Let the other candidates for governor speak at the debates.
Same old two-party games. Was Jana Kemp even named in the poll that was conducted? Or was the option just “another candidate”? The IRS has no rule.
Does this non-profit take contributions from independent voters? Does this non-profit get any state or federal grants? Grants that would come from taxpayers of all political leanings, including independents! As a registered independent, it is offensive to have my tax dollars or donations go to groups that end up helping corrupt two party candidates! Give Jana Kemp an opportunity, it is only fair!
I am hoping that after the debate, Idaho voters will see we need new blood in the office.Let them beat each other up and we will see their true colors.
I’d like to know who the 500 people were that they used for the poll. Most people I know and from other news sources across the country, over 75% of the population is over-the-top sick and tired of the Republicans and the Democrats. If that is truly the case neither Butch or Keith would be invited to the debate. All candidates should participate … not just the ones with the deep pockets.
As for the Catholic roast … commented on by Mike Kennedy. I would doubt Ms. Kemp threatened legal action. However, there must have been some validity to her asking the question as to if the event fell into the criteria set forth in the 501C3. And by the way …. she was invited, just not to be roasted.
It would be incredible if we could all get on the same page and put integrity and transparency into our governing bodies. After all … they are the employees of the American People. Maybe it is time for them to behave as such.
[...] Read IdahoReporter.com’s first story on the flap between Kemp and the City Club of Boise here. [...]
Third party candidates often have an important part to play in our political process and can have significant impacts on local and national elections. Issues that are ignored by the the two powerhouse parties can often be championed by an independent. If the issue is important enough to the voters it can alter the platforms of the major parties. Elections with third parties often have greater voter turnout. According to recent surveys, 25% of the electorate consider themselves to be independent. To maintain a dynamic electoral process with all citizens involved, independent candidates must be a part of the process, especially in debates. To deny them this opportunity puts our democratic system in peril.