Based on information in this IdahoReporter.com article, now-former Idaho legislature candidate John Chambers did the right thing when he discontinued his preparations to run for the seat to be vacated by Representative Frank Henderson of Post Falls.  After substituting for Henderson early in this legislative session and then deciding to run when Henderson leaves, Chambers checked with the Kootenai County Clerk’s Elections Office where it was determined he lived just outside the boundary of the district in which he intended to run.  Chambers immediately ended his candidacy.

Recognizing that both Henderson and Chambers should have verified Chambers’ eligibility to serve as Henderson’s substitute, OpenCdA still commends Chambers for taking the right action — immediately — when he learned of his ineligibility.

At least Chambers didn’t say he rented a basement room inside Henderson’s district to establish his eligibility.

While former Kootenai County Clerk  Dan English and present Secretary of State Ben Ysursa didn’t appear to take the state election law’s requirement for residency seriously in the past, this Los Angeles Times editorial shows that at least the State of California and Los Angeles County do.

Thanks to John Chambers for doing the right thing.  That’s the strength of character that we would want to see in a public official, and we hope that he will consider running for public office again.  Thanks, too, to the Kootenai County Clerk’s Office for helping him do the right thing rather than trying to find ways to help him evade the law.