Simpson challengers consider chances in primary

U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson hasn't faced a Republican primary challenger since 1998, but neither of his two challengers in the 2nd District seem intimidated by his political experience, financial backing or decade of experience in the House of Representatives.

Republican Gregory Nemitz, a 50-year-old from Twin Falls, sells beef jerky through his Internet business.

Republican Jack Wayne Chappell, a 56-year-old author from Buhl, went after the seat in 2000 as a Democrat, and said he's running again this year largely to promote his book, The Wilderness Rape.

Simpson, 57, practiced dentistry in Blackfoot before he was elected to Congress, where he now sits on the powerful Appropriations Committee. Approximately 60,000 voters have supported him in each of the past four primaries even though he was the lone Republican on the ballot.

But still, neither Chappell or Nemitz concede that it's impossible to beat Simpson in Tuesday's election.

"It would be hysterically funny, but it's possible," Chappell said. "If we win this primary, it's going to make national headlines, it'll be that much of a shock to everybody."

While Nemitz has a background anchored in science and technology - in the 1990s he was employed as an engineering technician for a San Diego firm NASA hired to build prototypes of rovers destined for Mars - he decided to run for office after watching the 2008 presidential election unfold.

He's hired a small staff and used his campaign as a platform for his ideas on how to improve the economy through competing currencies, explore alternative forms of energy and promote scientific research, such as space exploration, through grant competitions.

"I decided to run because I think there's a lot of people out there looking for some changes in Congress," Nemitz said. "I don't think you can get change by re-electing the same man over and over again."

Chappell, along with promoting his book, said he's also running to draw attention to his opposition to the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act, a wilderness bill Simpson has been working on for years.

"About the only way you can get anybody's attention is to run for a major office," said Chappell, who rode a mule during 2000 campaign stops to garner publicity and called this year's primary for the U.S. House of Representatives "worth taking a poke at."

The primary falls during a busy time in Congress, and while the workload doesn't leave much time for campaigning, Simpson said, he takes every challenge seriously.

"I've got no problem with people who have different ideas that want to run for Congress," Simpson said.

He touted his experience and went down the laundry list of issues he'd still like to work on include passing his wilderness bill, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judgeship and Reorganization Act, and improving the stability of Social Security.

"There's a lot left to do," Simpson said.

Meanwhile, his challengers prepare themselves for the likelihood that Simpson's streak with voters in Idaho's 2nd Congressional District could likely continue.

David Sneddon, a Boise land developer, is one of two Democrats running in the May primary for the chance to go up against Simpson in the general election in November.

"I'm supposed to say I'm optimistic," Sneddon said. "But I don't know, I really don't know."

But Sneddon does argue that he'd make a better candidate against the Republican heavyweight than his opponent, real estate agent Debbie Holmes, who has said she'd be happy to get at least 35 percent of votes in a race against Simpson for the 2nd District seat. "If you're running in a two-person race, and you're happy with getting second," Sneddon said, "Why the heck are you running?"

Holmes said she would still consider it a win if she, a lifelong Democrat with no political experience, managed to convince a third of voters in her district to get behind her on nationwide health care reform, education and her opposition to the Iraq war. As much as she'd like to beat Simpson and represent Idaho the U.S. House of Representatives, in reality, Holmes said she has raised $1,400 during her campaign and spent about $1,900.

In comparison, Simpson reported donations of $46,200 in April campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, which brought his total to $293,787 overall and gave him $114,409 in on-hand cash.

"If I didn't consider the fact the man was a five-term incumbent," Holmes said, "and I said I was going to Washington, you might think I was delusional."