Resolution Condemning C.L. “Butch” Otter and Thomas Loertscher

Resolution 2019 – 4, Idaho Republican Party

Whereas, Chad Christensen and Representative Thomas Loertscher competed for the Party’s nomination for Idaho House of Representatives District 32B in the Republican primary election held on May 15, 2018; and,
Whereas, Chad Christensen defeated Thomas Loertscher by winning a majority of the votes cast in both the primary election and general, despite Loertscher’s incumbency, and the results were certified by the Idaho Secretary of State; and,
Whereas, Chad Christensen’s victory, in both the primary election and general, largely can be attributed to voter dissatisfaction with Thomas Loertscher’s use of his position to block popular bills from receiving a hearing in the House; especially, bills related to firearms laws; and,
Whereas, Rep. Thomas Loertscher filed a declaration of write-in candidacy for the seat, and Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter chose to endorse that campaign; and,
Whereas, This endorsement by one of the Party’s most visible figures caused great confusion among Republicans and others about where the Party stands with respect to its nominee in the general election; and,
 Whereas, In fact, during the last election cycle, Chad Christensen received the unequivocal endorsement of Brad Little, Janice McGeachin, Jonathan Parker, Brent Crane, and numerous other Idaho Republican Party staff members, officeholders, candidates, and committees; and,
Whereas, Butch Otter’s endorsement of an independent write-in candidate over the Party’s duly-nominated candidate is wholly inappropriate, casts a dark shadow on Governor Otter’s tenure of service, and is not in keeping with our values as a Party; and,
Whereas, after being rightly called out and condemned for such behavior, Butch Otter continued his insults to Republican voters and workers by donating a substantial amount of resources to the decidedly un-Republican write-in campaign of Thomas Loertscher;
 Therefore be it Resolved, that the Idaho Republican Party condemns and censures Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter for his endorsement of Thomas Loertscher's write-in candidacy; and, Therefore be it further Resolved, that a copy of this resolution shall be sent to the 2019 Winter State Central Committee meeting for consideration.

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