State Representative, position A
Election Results
Candidate | Votes | Pct |
---|---|---|
Vito Barbieri (R) | 17,115 | 72.23% |
Kathy (Kraack) Kahn (D) | 6,581 | 27.77% |
* 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
In his three terms in the House, Rep. Vito Barbieri has been an outspoken tea party supporter and opponent of Medicaid expansion and civil rights protections for gays. The board chairman of the Open Arms crisis pregnancy center and clinic in Coeur d’Alene and a home-schooling advocate, he’s called on Christians to pull their children out of Idaho’s “Godless” public schools; he chairs the House Business Committee. Barbieri maintains that he’s the right representative for his highly conservative district; he’s twice won re-election. “My opponent has been focused on education, and the need to increase the budget,” Barbieri said. “I don’t believe that the constituents in this district even acknowledge that those are top priorities.”
Kathy Kraak Kahn, his Democratic challenger, a retired teacher, says she’s seen first-hand how Idaho’s schools are hurting. “They’re just short-changing education all across the board, transportation, the school buses, school bus drivers, substitute teachers in what they pay them, school nurses being cut out or cut short. Students are not being served.” Kahn said of Barbieri: “Almost every vote that he makes would not be the way I would have wanted that issue to go.”
The Candidates
Vito Barbieri
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 72
- City:
- Dalton Gardens
- Occupation:
- lawyer; small business owner
Education: Graduated from Westchester High School, Los Angeles, Calif., in 1969. Holds an associates degree from El Camino Junior College, and bachelor’s and law degrees from Western State University in Fullerton, Calif.
Political background: Incumbent, elected to the Idaho House in 2010, 2012 and 2014; seeking re-election to a fourth term.
Work experience: Practiced law in California for 20 years. Since moving to Idaho in 2004, has operated several small businessess, including a catering business and the “Vap-It” electronic cigarette store in Post Falls.
Family: Married. Has three grown children.
Kathy (Kraack) Kahn
- Party:
- Democratic
- Age:
- 69
- City:
- Medimont, Idaho
Education: Graduated from Post Falls High School in 1973. Earned bachelor’s degree in secondary education from University of West Florida, 1989. Graduate work at University of Idaho.
Political background: First run for office.
Work experience: Recently retired after teaching English in St. Maries for 28 years.
Family: Married. Has two children and one grandchild.
Complete Coverage
Reluctant Idaho lawmakers forward a bill to outlaw gambling machines that bring $3 million a year to state coffers
A reluctant House State Affairs Committee voted 10-5 Thursday to forward legislation to outlaw the Idaho Lottery’s “TouchTab” vending machines to the full House, but without the customary recommendation that it “do pass.”
Proposed law in Idaho would discourage sanctuary cities and direct law enforcement to question people’s immigration status
BOISE – An Idaho legislative committee took action directed at sanctuary cities on Monday even though the state doesn’t have any.
Barbieri, Redman seek re-election in HD2 races
North Idaho’s Legislative District 2 is among the most conservative in the state, and GOP incumbents Vito Barbieri and Eric Redman are hoping to keep it that way. Both face Democratic challengers in November, with longtime area teacher Kathy Kahn challenging Barbieri, and Richard Kohles, a former Post Falls school board member, challenging Redman.
Races in heavily GOP district feature conservative Idaho Rep. Vito Barbieri
North Idaho’s legislative District 2 is among the most conservative in the state, and GOP incumbents Vito Barbieri and Eric Redman are hoping to keep it that way.
Democrat challenges Rep. Barbieri in heavily GOP North Idaho district
No Democrat has represented North Idaho’s legislative District 2 since 1994, but newly retired St. Maries teacher Kathy Kahn thinks she’s got a shot, in her challenge to third-term Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens. First off, she and her campaign manager, former state Sen. Mike Blackbird, D-Post Falls, point to the numbers. Sure, Barbieri…
Eye on Boise: Democrat challenges Rep. Barbieri in heavily GOP North Idaho district
No Democrat has represented North Idaho’s legislative District 2 since 1994, but newly retired St. Maries teacher Kathy Kahn thinks she’s got a shot, in her challenge to third-term Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens.
Republican Idaho lawmaker bloc often votes ‘no’ on appropriations
Every year a bloc of lawmakers in the Idaho Legislature votes against billions of dollars in spending for routine functions of state government, and this year was no exception.
Idaho House overwhelmingly OKs school budget, though Barbieri worries taxpayers can’t afford it
A public school budget that makes way for a 7.4 percent funding increase passed the Idaho House overwhelmingly on Monday, though one North Idaho lawmaker voted against all seven pieces of the budget.
Huckleberries: At least she knows female anatomy
Democrat Kathy (Kraack) Kahn says she’s has a distinct advantage over Republican incumbent Vito Barbieri: She knows how a female’s anatomy works. During the 2015 session, Barbieri, a Republican legislator from Dalton Gardens, made international headlines during an abortion discussion. Barbieri asked a female physician if a pill with a camera could be used in gynecological exams. Kahn said she knows the answer to that question without even Googling it.
Eye on Boise: Idaho homeowner’s exemption could lose inflation index
Eye on Boise column for Sunday