POCATELLO — There was an elephant in the room at the grand opening of the Bannock County Republican election headquarters Friday morning.

    As the symbol of the Grand Old Party, the painted cut-out elephants were on display as the Pocatello Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting party at the center of operations for the political party. The new headquarters is located at 1035 Yellowstone Ave., (across from the new Winco construction site) in Pocatello.     

    Members of the public and the Pocatello Chamber of Commerce gathered in the building that formerly housed Inkley’s camera store to see the ribbon being cut and munch on refreshments, while mingling with candidates for various local races.   

    “We’ve had a good response from the community,” said Bannock County GOP chairman Jordan Cheirrett. The building has already been in use for about a month, and now houses two full-time staff  workers.

    “We’ve already had candidates using the space,” said Cheirrett. “We have a mailing room, strategy rooms, meeting rooms, and space for candidate events. Starting next Friday we will have Free Lunch Friday.”

    The Friday lunches will be a time for members of the public to meet with candidates and enjoy some free food. Also, the Speaker of the Idaho House Lawerence Denney will be on hand at the headquarters building to meet and talk with the public on Saturday, Oct. 13.   

    The headquarters for the Bannock County Republicans provides a place for voters to meet candidates, get information on local races, and discuss their political leanings.

    “People have strong beliefs both ways,” said Cheirret. “This is a consequential election.”   

    “This gives great exposure for me and the other people on the Republican ticket,” commented Kent Reynolds. Reynolds is running for Bannock County Prosecutor. Reynolds went on to say that having the Republican headquarters is advantageous for the party’s candidates.

    “This is a central location for the public and it’s a place for people to meet us and get to know us,” Reynolds said. “It gives us a chance to meet one-on-one with people and share our positions and qualifications for the positions we’re running for.”

    Dave Bowen is the Republican candidate vying for the Idaho House District 29, seat A and will face Democrat Carolyn Meline and Independent Bob Croker in the November election. Bowen said that as a newcomer, he is excited to see the people willing to volunteer and to have the headquarters space available for use by local campaigns.

    “People are energized and I think it has a lot to do with the presidential race,” he said. A masonry contractor by trade, Bowen said, “We’re enthused and energized, and we’re getting more help than ever.”

     Kelley Packer is running for Idaho House Seat B in District 28 and will face Democrat Kamren Koompin Nov. 6. She has just begun her second term as a City Council member in McCammon and is the former chairwoman of Bannock County Republicans.

    Packer explained why she decided to go from organizing local Republican efforts to running for statewide office.

    “I no longer think that just sitting on my couch and then going out to vote is enough,” she said. “I want to understand why they’ve done things the way they’ve done them, understand what works and what doesn’t and fix the things that don’t.”     

    The combined effort of Bannock County Republicans, candidates, and their supporters will culminate on election night, Tuesday, Nov. 6, when the public is invited to join local candidates and supporters to watch election results.

    “We’ll have a party and watch the election returns here,” said Cheirret.  

Upcoming events at GOP HQ

    Upcoming events at the Republican Headquarters include a meet & greet open to the public with the Speaker of the House Lawerence Denny on Saturday, Oct. 13. The public is invited to Free Lunch Fridays to share food and discussion with local candidates. The public is also invited to watch election returns on election night at the headquarters of the Bannock County Republicans at 1035 Yellowstone Ave., in Pocatello.