NEWS SHORTS

DON'T WRITE HER OFF

She was in, she was out, now, she's back in - kind of.

Former Eagle Mayor Nancy Merrill announced earlier this week that she's back in the race for House Majority Leader Mike Moyle's District 14 House seat. This time, though, it's as a write-in candidate.

"I had many supporters who were just so disappointed, that came to me and said, 'You can still do this," Merrill told BlV. "It seems to be the right thing to do now."

Merrill confirmed that she is running as a Republican, meaning she will square off against Moyle in the May 27 primary.

The announcement was a surprise for Moyle, who said he spoke to Merrill just last week and she failed to mention a run for office.

"She said she was bored and looking for something to do," Moyle told BW. "[Merrill's announcement] caught me off-guard a little."

Rumors were rampant earlier in the year that Moyle would face a strong challenge from either Merrill or Chuck Winder, a former Ada County Highway District commissioner, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Boise against Dave Bieter in 2003 (BW, News, "Game Time, " March 5, 2008).

Winder decided he didn't want to take on the five-term lawmaker and instead filed to run against Sen. Stan Bastian.

After much talk and speculation, Merrill dropped out of contention, citing family health concerns.

Merrill said she has a group of supporters in place with money and labor, and she's planning a 15-day blitz campaign to get the word out and educate voters on how to vote for a write-in candidate.

Merrill said she knows a write-in campaign is no small task, especially against a strong incumbent. But she believes she has better name recognition and a better organization than Moyle.

"I have a well-oiled machine of supporters that are working day and night," she said.

Merrill has a quick list of what sets her apart from her Republican opponent: No. 1, she's accessible. No. 2, she's a consensus builder. No. 3, she has 18 years experience.

Her campaign will focus on issues facing urban areas of the Treasure Valley.

"There is a feeling that we are now an urban area, and we are not having urban issues addressed," she said.

Her top issue is transportation.

Merrill said she decided to wait until the last minute to file as a write-in candidate as part of a shock-and-awe campaign.

"[I did it] as an element of surprise," she said. "It gives us a bigger focus for that period of time."

Merrill and Moyle have known each other personally for many years. Moyle calls Merrill's husband, Galan, "The nicest guy in the world," and Merrill said Moyle once dated her daughter - but all's fair in politics.

"I know and love [Moyle's] family, but I don't feel our issues in District 14 are being taken care of, and we have to have some strong representation," she said.

For his part, Moyle said he plans to stick to his usual plan of fliers and signs in the primaries. At this time, he has no plans to take part in any candidate comparisons or debates.

"I'm planning to do what I always do," he said.

According to Idaho election law, a write-in candidate must file prior to the primary election and get at least 50 votes in order to be counted. If he or she makes it past the primary, the candidate must file again with the Secretary of State and pay a registration fee to appear on the ballot.

BITING BACK

Dog people unite.

That's the word from a group of disgruntled canine companions upset by the recent proposal to expand leash laws on Foothill trails (BW, News, "The (Dog) Shit Hits the Fan, " May 7, 2008).

The group wants dog owners who used the Foothills trail system to be part of the plan to avoid restricting access to the popular recreation area. The will host an open meeting at 7 p.m. on May 14 at the Foothills Learning Center.

The group includes two members of the Foothills Dog Policy Working Group, the organization that came up with the idea for the leash restrictions in the first place.

The meeting comes in response to the recommendation from the working group, which reports to the Foothills Advisory Committee, calling for all dogs on lower and mid-level Foothills trails to be leashed only.

That recommendation came after a growing number of complaints about out-of-oontrol dogs on the busy trails and owners failing to pick up after their dogs. Working group members surveyed communities around the country to find out what works.

The recommendations were shelved for the time being after public outcry.

This new group of dog owners hopes to come up with a plan that would appease the powers that be and not give the city a reason to create new restrictions.

The group is already planning a poop scoop/education day in June.

OBAMA GETS ANOTHER

Barack Obama just picked up another sought-after superdelegate.

R. Keith Roark, chairman of the Idaho Democratic Party, Is backing Obama. it's a big switch from his pledged neutrality in earlier weeks (BW, News Shorts, "Super Switch?," April 9, 2008).

The announcement came during a press conference on May 12 and included the promise of a visit from Obama's wife, Michele, following the primary, and a posible return by Obama himself.

Roark said he was on the fence up until he spent some time with the Obama campaign in Chicago, where he was promised Obama would maintain a campaign office in Idaho.

While Roark had strong praise for Hillary Clinton, he had some harsh words about her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

"While I greatly admire Hillary Clinton, I believe strongly that her husband's presidency, whatever it may or may not have done for the nation, was a disaster for Idaho Democrats and for Democrats throughout the intermountain West," Roark said in a written release.

Roark's acrimony toward the former president might have something to do with Clinton's recent comments about Idaho, stating that the state has more elk than Democrats.

Roark is the fourth of five Idaho superdelegates to commit to Obama. The fifth superdelegate will be selected at the state Democratic convention in June. There are also 15 pledged delegates committend to Obama, while three others will represent Hillary Clinton. These delegates will also be selected at the state convention.

war in Iraq

U.S. CASUALTIES: As of Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 4,077 U.S. service members (including 31 Idahoans) have died since the war in Iraq began in March 2003: 3,324 in combat and 753 from non-combat-related incidents and accidents. Injured service members total 30,004. In the last week, six U.S. soldiers died.

Since President George W. Bush declared "mission accomplished" aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln on May 1, 2003, 3,927 soldiers have died.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Defense

IRAQI CIVILIAN DEATHS: Estimated between 83,521 and 91,094.

Source: iraqbooycount.net

COST OF IRAQ WAR: $519,280,797,311

Source: costofwar.com

- Deanna Darr