Idaho Dispatch

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Op-Ed: The Real Extremists of Southeast Idaho Politics

By • February 3, 2022

The following Op-Ed was submitted by Jake Stevens. Note: Op-Eds do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of those at the Idaho Dispatch. 

I was very disturbed to hear that Pocatello’s mayor, a registered Republican, recently contributed the maximum allowable donation to district 29’s staunch Democrat representative, James Ruchti.

Representative Ruchti is no moderate Democrat. I believe Ruchti’s voting record egregiously contradicts the wishes of the overwhelming majority of Pocatello residents who support family values.

Some examples include:

· voting against a bill that would curb the governor’s power to deem certain businesses “non-essential” and force them to close (Idaho House Bill 135)

· voting against a bill that would prohibit the killing of an unborn child once a heartbeat can be detected (Idaho House Bill 366),

· voting against a bill that would ban males from completing in girls’ sports (Idaho House Bill 500), and

· voting against a bill that banned Marxist racial propaganda such as Critical Race Theory from being taught in public schools. (Idaho House Bill 377)

As a man of Christian faith, the subject of protecting the lives of unborn children is non-negotiable when it comes to deciding which political candidates I will support. Based on my conversations with friends, family, and neighbors here in Pocatello, it appears most of our community feels the same way. I would also argue that most of our community opposes males competing in girls’ sports, as well as radical gender, sexual, and racial propaganda poisoning the vulnerable minds of our youth.

James Ruchti has actively supported efforts to implement measures to allow forced business closures and vaccine mandates that come with threats of job loss and occupational licensure revocation. I have personally spoken with over one hundred small business owners in the Pocatello area over the past month and every single one of them told me they ardently oppose these policies.

To Mayor Blad’s credit, when I called him to inquire as to why he is supporting a candidate who’s voting record reflects radical leftist ideology that is misaligned with the predominant values of our community, he did return my call.

He told me he contributed to Representative Ruchti’s campaign because he believes Ruchti has always represented our community’s best interests. When I asked for a specific example, he could not provide one. He did however say, “In the past I have asked other legislators such as Randy Armstrong and Kevin Andrus to vote a certain way and they would not. James has voted the way I’ve asked him to.”

I then asked Mayor Blad very bluntly if the reason he contributed to Ruchti’s campaign had anything to do with the fact that Ruchti was instrumental in planning for the Democrat party to endorse Mayor Blad in his recent bid for re-election as Mayor. He claimed James Ruchti had nothing to do with that plan. Ruchti’s own Facebook page tells a different story.

Members of both sides of the political establishment of Pocatello have colluded to ensure career politicians with extremist, radical left ideologies remain in power. And no one is talking about it.

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Tags: Brian Blad, Critical Race Theory, Jake Stevens, James Ruchti, Kevin Andrus, Randy Armstrong

8 thoughts on “Op-Ed: The Real Extremists of Southeast Idaho Politics

  1. Way too many democrats with R’s behind their names! Do your research on each candidate, including their voting record to see exactly where they stand.

  2. Politics’ is a down and dirty business–always has been and likely always will be. Best way to counter the natural tendency is vote for the candidate who promises to give you nothing.

  3. Please fight like crazy not to let leaders take over and destroy your rights to be free and other conservative values as it has here in Washington
    I was born in Eastern then moved to Western and the leadership is so far left!
    Conservatives fight hard but are hated
    The left here teach and preach hate who you oppose.
    Just think of this I cannot go a restaurant 5 minutes from my house to King County because I don’t have a vax card
    just think of that
    It is terrible here
    All mail in ballots with dropboxes everywhere
    I’ve never voted for a radical left in my life.
    Protect Idaho from all evil minded politicians!
    I honestly think we cannot recover
    Thank you Deborah of Woodinville Washington

  4. But yet Pocatello had a chance to vote in a new mayor in a runoff vote and they still voted for Blad. What about the new interstate onramp and the behind the scenes deals Blad made and the promises he did not keep.
    If people want change they must vote in change.

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