As expected, former House Speaker and current state Rep. Lawerence Denney jumped into the race for secretary of state Thursday.
A few tidbits from the unfolding race:
- Denney, R-Midvale, will oppose efforts by the state Land Board to acquire more commercial property, according to the Spokane Spokesman-Review’s Betsy Russell. This has been a recurring and contentious issue at the Land Board — the panel of five statewide elected officials that handles endowment decisions for public schools and other beneficiaries. The board tabled three possible swaps for office buildings earlier this month.
- Several GOP lawmakers showed up in Boise to lend their support to Denney, reports Russell: Sen. Russell Fulcher of Meridian; Reps. Judy Boyle of Midvale; Mike Moyle of Star; Joe Palmer and Jason Monks of Meridian; Mark Patterson of Boise and Paul Shepherd of Riggins.
- Moyle, the House majority leader and longtime Denney ally, tells Russell he is backing Denney, partly because Moyle believes Republican incumbent Ben Ysursa is not planning to seek a fourth term. (Ysursa has not publicly announced whether he’s running.) Moyle said he is not supporting Fulcher’s possible run for governor, since incumbent Butch Otter has signaled his plans to run.
Secretary of State Ben Ysursa - Other Republicans are looking at a possible run, according to the Associated Press’ John Miller: Ada County chief deputy clerk Phil McGrane, and former state Sen. Mitch Toryanski of Boise.
