Summary
A long career in politics comes to an end for one Pocatello man today. Idaho Democratic Party Chairman Richard Stallings has just resigned from his position, effective immediately. Channel Three Eyewitness News Reporter Jeff Robinson caught up with him today to find out about his future plans.
Story Published: Dec 21, 2007 at 6:35 PM MDT
Story Updated: Nov 7, 2008 at 1:16 PM MDT
Idaho Democratic Party Chairman Richard Stallings has just resigned from his position, effective immediately.
Channel Three Eyewitness News Reporter Jeff Robinson caught up with him today to find out about his future plans.
Stallings is saying goodbye to Pocatello and dividing his time between Island Park and a new home in Nevada. He says he's leaving the party in good shape, but he's been left a bit disillusioned with American politics.
"The party is really in very good shape. The Democrats are poised to win; the only question is how much will we win this November. We felt it was a good time."
Thursday was Stallings last city council meeting and his last day as the Idaho Democratic Party chair. He says the party's made gains during his three years in the position.
"Bring in an Eastern Idaho perspective, instead of a Boise-based party. We've won a number of seats; we did very well in Pocatello, we won a seat in Idaho Falls, we won several seats in Ada County."
But Stallings says political discourse has changed for the worse during his career, which started in the U.S. House in 1985.
"The debate is not based on logic, it's based on anger. We always worked under the assumption that you could disagree without being disagreeable. That has changed. It's take-no-prisoners, it's, 'if you don't leave blood on the floor, you're not doing your job.'"
But he says that hasn't contributed to his decision to resign.
"I've taken a couple of shots at the other side from time to time, when they deserved it, and I expect them to do the same at us, but it's always been in the spirit of being positive, of trying to bring two sides to the issues."
Stallings says the state party is poised to make gains in next year's elections.
"The seat in the first congressional district is our best shot, I think. The open seat for the senate, we've got a good candidate running, that's a real opportunity for us."
Stallings position will be filled by Vice-Chairwoman Jeanne Buell for now. The party will elect a new leader at their central committee meeting in two weeks.