Here’s an oddity: Rep. Mark Nye, D-Pocatello, is running for the Senate, now that Democratic Sen. Roy Lacey has retired, and the GOP opponent who’s listed on the ballot as running against Nye is Tom Katsilometes. But that’s not the Tom Katsilometes who’s currently an Idaho state tax commissioner, and has been since 2005, and who served as a Democratic elected county commissioner in Pocatello for 18 years.

“I’m not running for anything, ever,” said the elder Katsilometes, 69. “He’s my first cousin.”

The younger Katsilometes, an attorney, ran as a write-in in the GOP primary and made it on the ballot. Now he’s running a largely self-funded campaign, including signs and billboards that don’t include his photo – but do include his well-known name.

“There’s some confusion,” Nye said today. “Tom was a very popular county commissioner here and well-known before he went on the Tax Commission.”

There’s also a third candidate in the race, running on the Libertarian ticket. He’s listed this time around as “Sierra ‘Idaho Lorax’ Carta,” although in the past he’s sought office, including mayor of Pocatello, as just the Idaho Lorax. That candidate has long been raising concerns about radioactivity in the Pocatello area and is known for attending City Council meetings in a hazmat suit.

Nye, an attorney, has served one term in the House; District 29 currently is represented by three Democrats, including Nye, Lacey, and Rep. Elaine Smith, D-Pocatello. Democrat David Maguire, a longtime Pocatello attorney, is seeking Nye’s House seat, and Republican Dustin Manwaring of Pocatello, an attorney and Blackfoot native, is running against him.

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