Idaho election sparks debate over politicization of attorney general
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The election season is raising questions about whether the Idaho attorney general’s office has become too politicized.
Attorney General Raúl Labrador was in Idaho Falls Thursday for a luncheon with the Mountain States Policy Center.
During his trip, Labrador stopped by Local News 8 to discuss the highlights of his term, including his office's efforts to clear a backlog of cases for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
See our full interview above.
“Within one year, I reduced the entire backlog of cyber tips. Today, instead of taking months and months to review the cyber tips, we look at every cyber tip within 24 hours," Labrador said. "That's why we have been able to quadruple the number of prosecutions and convictions.”
In the race for Idaho attorney general, Democratic challenger Lori Hickman argues the position should be kept free from party politics.
Hickman has drawn support from across the aisle, earning endorsements from two former Republican attorneys general in Idaho.
She says her goal is to return the office to a tradition of nonpartisan leadership.
“For many years, Idaho has had several attorneys general. From Jim Jones to Larry Echo Hawk to Lawrence Wasden for 20 years – two Republicans and a Democrat who just followed the rule of law and applied the law as written and reached across both sides of the aisle," Hickman said earlier this campaign season. "It didn't matter who came to their office for representation. Politics did not come into play. That is what I want to restore the office to.”
However, as Idaho's incumbent attorney general, Labrador says the role itself is not political, just the election process.
“I think when you are elected by the people, obviously it's such an honor to be chosen by them to do it. But you also have to make sure that you're listening to the people and you're doing the things that they want you to do," Labrador said. "Because if you end up, you know, thinking you're too important or you're thinking that you don't really have to follow what your constituents want you to do, they can very easily get rid of you.”
While Hickman has picked up some notable endorsements, Labrador maintains a commanding lead in campaign fundraising.
According to a report by the Idaho Capital Sun, Labrador has raised close to $700,000, compared to Hickman’s close to $200,000.
To learn more about the four cases the State of Idaho has brought to the U.S. Supreme Court during Labrador's term, the Fairness in Women's Sports lawsuit, and his views on the 1995 Settlement agreement as Idaho applies for the Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, see our interview above.
For more coverage and information on our state candidates, visit our voter guide on LocalNews8.com.
