I had the most delightful conversation with Idaho U.S. Senate candidate Todd Achilles recently. He’s the independent running against our longtime Sen. James Risch. This is the fourth time I’ve met with him, and I’m more impressed every time.

Here’s the thing. He’s 58 years old. Army background, tank commander, college professor, Idaho legislator, raised on a farm, did sheep 4-H. I could go on and on. You need to Google him and read his bio. He’s so qualified in every respect.

He’s just the real deal. He’s visited every county in Idaho, meets in small groups so you can really get some one-on-one time with him, and he has charisma combined with intelligence and energy. I think he could do so much for Idaho.

Sen. Jim Risch is 83 years old. If he gets elected again, he’ll be 89 at the end of his term.

If I felt I had to retire from my job at 65 because I wasn’t as sharp as I used to be, wouldn’t you think Risch would recognize he can’t possibly be the senator he was? Risch was first elected in 1970. Todd Achilles was two years old. All Risch is doing is rubber stamping whatever the party or the White House wants. In the last 18 years, Sen. Risch has never held a town hall meeting. Dude, it’s time to give it up. This Achilles guy is the perfect candidate to give it up for.

People are tired of elected officials having more loyalty to the party than to the Constitution.

Achilles said there are six independents running for the Senate across the United States.

If they all win, it’ll blow this party loyalty thing right out the window. The six independents will be the swing vote. There’s never been a more important time for Idahoans to consider electing an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate.

Do me a favor. Look up “Todd Achilles Bullfinch poll.” The poll is nonpartisan and the most recent results “show a volatile political climate defined by widespread economic frustration and dissatisfaction with the state’s political status quo. The data reveals voters are highly receptive to an independent alternative in this upcoming election, and Senator Jim Risch is facing stark headwinds.”

One final thought. The Democratic candidate for the Idaho U.S. Senate, David Roth, needs to drop out of the race. Please, David, step down. Let this be a race between Achilles and Risch. And I’m begging you all to do some research on Achilles. You won’t be sorry.