Last week I crossed paths with no less than 20 former lawmakers. There are hundreds of us out there across Idaho in small towns and across the valley. So many that each year we have a memorial day in both the House and Senate for the ten or so who pass away.
Sometimes alumni of the legislature retain their titles. Certainly in more formal settings some like former Speaker Bruce Newcomb do. Newcomb works in Government relations for BSU. His wife, Celia Gould is also a former legislator and was appointed by Butch Otter to head the Department of Ag. Other former law makers have become so familiar in other roles that we might forget that they were once Senators and Representatives.
Roaming the halls of the Capitol are the many Republican law makers who have become lobbyists. Chris Ellis, former legislator is now a lobbyist for the Health Care industry. Kent Kuntz. Steve Ahrens. Clete Edmundson works in legislative relations for the Governor. Kathie Garrett Lobbies on mental health issues. Former Senator, Majority leader and lobbyist, Bill Roden was invited back on the Senate floor for a tribute to Alan Dingle last week. Former Senator Skip Brandt, a sort of John McGee type rising young star
of sessions past stood at the podium in our Senate Commerce Committee trying to abolish use of
the International Fire Code. Brandt lost a primary race for congress
and is now a County Commissioner.
Lee Gagner, former JFAC member roamed the halls this week for a few days. A former moderate and powerful member of JFAC, he lost a tough primary race and went from being a fixture to being gone.
Most those Republicans who have lost primaries are moderates. Some, like Otter appointee, Curtis Bowers made foolish mistakes. Bowers published a John Birch society anti-gay tirade in the Nampa paper and was shunned by the many lawmakers who were embarrassed by his words.
Well loved, long time Pocatello Senator Edgar Malepeai's wife, Brenda, recently passed away after a two year battle with cancer. Edgar, one of my favorite law makers, is still an elected Senator but has stayed in Pocatello these past two years to be with Brenda every minute he was able. Her funeral in Pocatello was lovely and graced with spectacular vocal trios and quartets. The Senate took the day off to attend. Lawmakers present and past sat in the balconies of the ISU's huge new music hall and watched tall men in Polynesian print shirts usher visitors.
In the balcony seats reserved for legislators, sat men I might have forgotten were lawmakers, Democrats, like Mayor Chase and educator Alan Anderson. Republicans from Eastern Idaho. They came to wish Brenda goodbye, to be there for Edgar.
I looked out across the hall and realized what an unusual club the people of my district have elected me to. It is not just a two or four or six or eight year membership. For life you are in part a legislator, just as the female spouses of the male lawmakers will always be "legisladies." You can hide from it I imagine, but in a book somehow or on the walls of the capitol your name and picture remain. I suppose even if we die eighty years from now, someone will say our names and try to come up with something nice to say for the annual memorial service on the Senate floor.
It is an odd thought for me, having never belonged to a club with official members, having never been part of such formality and tradition. Once a Senator, at least on some roll book somewhere, Senators we remain.