Twenty-five years ago, North Idaho had two good Democratic senators in adjoining Kootenai and Shoshone counties: Mary Lou Reed and Mari Calabretta. In the redistricting that occurs every 10 years, however, wascally Republicans changed the lines, forcing a Democratic primary between Mary Lou and Marti, in which Mary Lou won. In my column of April 20, 1992, I described a debate between Mary Lou and Marti:

The best exchange in the Great Debate -- Reed vs Calabretta, mana a mano -- occurred when a questioner asked why they didn't support independent statehood for North Idaho. Responded Mary Lou to the man, "If you want to lead the charge, I would be more than interested in being governor." Marti didn't pass up the opening either. She interjected, "I did understand Mary Lou wanted to run for governor, but I didn't know she would announce today." Harrumphed Demo attorney Bliss Bignall from the Peanut Gallery: "That'd solve our problem." Demos aren't thrilled that reappointment pitted the two standard bearers against each other.

And, in a follow-up note from the debate:

Dapper Mike Anderson, the Post Falls police lieutenant who wants to be a Democratic commissioner, urged bossman Cliff Hayes and Commissioner Kent Helmer to leave without him (from the Democratic Club luncheon). "I can't be seen with Republicans," he quipped.