State Representative, Pos. A
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Luke Malek (R) | 10,406 | 57.54% |
| Ray J. Writz (C) | 680 | 3.76% |
* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.
About the Race
Three candidates are vying for this House seat, which became open after four-term GOP Rep. Marge Chadderdon announced her retirement.
Luke Malek is an up-and-coming Republican whom Chadderdon endorsed; he won a two-way GOP primary with 65 percent of the vote, but his GOP opponent did little campaigning. Janet Callen, the Democratic candidate, says she was motivated to run by this year’s legislative session. “I did not like their actions against women,” she said.
Constitution Party candidate Ray Writz is making his third run for the Legislature.
Idaho legislators are paid $16,116 per year.
The Candidates
Luke Malek
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 43
Education: Graduated from Gonzaga Prep High School, 2000. Earned bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of Idaho and law degree from the University of Idaho.
Political background: Incumbent, elected to Idaho House in 2012 and 2014. Served as North Idaho regional director for then-Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, and then in the same position when Risch was governor. Interned for Idaho Sens. Larry Craig and Mike Crapo.
Work experience: Served as executive director of the Post Falls Urban Renewal Agency. Worked for three years for the Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.Was in-house counsel for Heritage Health for two years, then formed Smith-Malek law firm. Continues to serve as general counsel for Heritage Health. Also serves on the McClure Center board for the University of Idaho, and on the Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) board for the 1st Judicial District. Co-founded the Kootenai County Young Professionals organization.
Family: Married. Has no children.
Ray J. Writz
- Party:
- Constitution
- Age:
- 73
- City:
- Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
- Occupation:
- Janitorial business owner
Education: Graduated from Grant High School in Fox Lake, Illinois, in 1969. Studied accounting at the now-defunct Kinman Business University in Spokane in 1982-83.
Political Experience: Ran unsuccessfully for Idaho state Senate in 2010, state House of Representatives in 2012, again for state Senate in 2014 and for U.S. Senate in 2016.
Work Experience: Partially retired after a career as a carpenter, laborer and sanitation engineer. Most recently, ran a janitorial business in Coeur d'Alene.
Family: Married. Has two adult children and five grandchildren.
Campaign Fundraising: $7,410 as of Oct. 1. Writz contributed nearly all of those funds himself, with one donation from independent political activist Darcy Richardson.
Complete Coverage
Republican newcomers vying for CdA seat
With fourth-term Republican Rep. Marge Chadderdon of Coeur d’Alene stepping down, the only contested race in the primary for Idaho’s legislative District 4 this year is between the two young Republicans vying for a shot at replacing her. Chadderdon has endorsed Luke Malek, 30, a local attorney and business consultant who rose to prominence in political circles when then-Gov. Jim Risch named him his North Idaho regional director, heading up the state’s first North Idaho governor’s office.