Idaho Statesman columnist Dan Popkey writes about Dan English, the former Kootenai County clerk who's filed as a Democrat to run for the seat now held by Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol. Popkey says English has “an impressive resume for a challenger,” though he's running in a district where no Democrat has even run for the Legislature since 2002, and then there was just one candidate, who lost. The last one elected was in 1994.  Republican businessman Ed Morse of Hayden also is running; if Hart, a tax protester who's currently appealing more than $53,000 in back state income taxes and facing a possible home foreclosure over back federal income taxes, files for re-election, he'd face Morse in the GOP primary.

English, 60, is former president of the Idaho Association of County Recorders and Clerks; former sheriff's detective; former city councilman and school board member; former executive director of two non-profit youth organizations; licensed professional counselor; adjunct professor at Lewis-Clark State College; and father of four, two of whom served in the military in Iraq.

Popkey reports that he announced his candidacy yesterday outside the Idaho State Tax Commission's North Idaho office, where he said, “I’ve had the privilege of winning the public’s trust and holding public office on several occasions, just like Representative Hart. I’ve taken my oath of office very seriously as well as the trust that was placed in me. I imagine Mr. Hart must feel he does the same. But that’s about as far as the similarities go. I can only think we must be made out of different stuff at our core. Because I can’t imagine wanting to even give the appearance that I was somehow using the fact of being an elected office holder as a shield to avoid, or in any manner delay the responsibilities and timelines that every other ordinary tax payer must abide by." You can read Popkey's full post here.