Bob Macdonald Wants New Party, New Seat Seeks To Join Natural Law Party, But May Be Blocked By State Law
Kootenai County commissioner Bob Macdonald is considering a run for the Legislature as a Natural Law Party candidate.
The long-standing Republican is the first North Idaho candidate publicly associated with the new independent party, which officially made its way onto Idaho’s ballot Friday.
But it appears Macdonald, who lost a primary re-election bid to tax activist Ron Rankin, will have to go to court to get on the ballot.
Idaho’s Secretary of State’s office said a “sore loser” election law prevents candidates who lose in a primary from running in the general election under another party.
It doesn’t matter that Macdonald is seeking a different seat, said Deputy Secretary Ben Ysursa.
“We have to go by the way the law’s written,” Ysursa said. “It’s pretty clear.”
But the law has never been challenged, he admitted, and Macdonald’s case is different. “We’re not in the habit of getting a bunch of new parties on the ballot,” Ysursa said.
The independent party supports holistic health care, rehabilitation in prisons, and a return to organic farming, said Susan Vegors, party chairman in Idaho. Their presidential candidate is a physicist.
Despite the party’s “new-age” appeal, it’s not unusual for a Republican to joint its ranks, she said.
Vegors said Macdonald - who was unavailable Friday - has known about the party for some time, she said.
His switch caught the county’s GOP establishment off guard.
“I was surprised - I think everyone was,” said GOP Chair Kathy Sims. “But, gee, this is America. Anybody can run anyway they want to.”
Macdonald would challenge freshman Rep. Jeff Alltus, R-Coeur d’Alene, and an unknown Democrat.
Democratic challenger Cecil Kelly bowed out of this race earlier this month. His successor is expected to be named today
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