By: Leslie Wolff
Precinct Committeeman TF14, Magic Valley Liberty Alliance Board Member, Magic Valley Republican Women 2nd Vice President, and 2026 Candidate for Twin Falls County Assessor
The Twin Falls County Fair… The Last Bastion of Summer
Exhibit halls full of antiques, photographs, and vendors selling their wares that they say you can’t live without. Rodeo contenders with their eyes on that first-place prize. Youngin’s showing off their animals and all their hard work. The young, and the young at heart, standing in long lines for their turn on amusement rides. Guys attempting to win that giant stuffed animal for their special lady. Everyone enjoying their favorite fair foods and ending the day with an Elephant Ear. What could it be any more American? Well, don’t forget to stop by the political booths!
Time for the Precinct Committeemen and Volunteers to Step Up
This was my second year working the Republican booth. I signed up for four 2-hour shifts. One on Thursday, one on Friday and then two, back-to-back on Saturday afternoon.
According to the volunteer sign-up list, once again, the participation from the Precinct Committeemen was dismal. We have two open PC seats, meaning there are 42 active PCs. The PCs that signed up were Kathy Thomsen (Buhl1), Stephanie Snarr (Kimberly2), Don Hall (TF7), Mike Matthews (TF9), myself (TF14), and Paul Thompson (TF15). Cherie Vollmer (not an elected PC, but a State Committeewoman) also signed up for a couple shifts. Executive Committee appointed, or should I say anointed, Chance Requa (Executive Director and TF23 PC) was at the fair all week making sure the booth was manned and filled in where needed. That is seven PCs out of 42… less than 17%. Shameful!!
There were several State Legislators that took multiple shifts, including State Senators Glenneda Zuiderveld (LD24) and Josh Kohl (LD25), and State Representatives Clint Hostetler (LD24), Lance Clow and David Leavitt (both LD25). There were also a handful of volunteers that took several shifts to help: Marie Silver, Matt Feemster, Nikki O’Neal, and Alex Caval.
What are those old sayings? “Size Matters” and “Location, Location, Location”
When I arrived for my first shift, I noticed that instead of a 10×20 booth, the booth was only a 10×10. I asked Fair Chair, Chance Requa, why it was half the size of last year, I was told “this is what they gave us”. It was barely big enough to hold the table, boxes of literature and a couple of volunteers.
The other thing I noticed was the location. It is almost like the Fair Board and/or the TFCRCC Executive Committee said, “let’s put the booth in the WORST location possible”. We were not only downwind from the Johnny Poppers where the noise and exhaust fumes permeated our booth; but we were further down and hidden from Main Street by a gaggle of gooseneck trailers.
Every year, the TFCRCC pays hundreds of dollars to have a booth in the sweltering heat, while the Democrats enjoy a booth in one of the buildings. When asked why by so many fair goers this year, I would jokingly say “it’s because the liberals are snowflakes, but the Republicans are tough and can take the heat”, but trust me, I continually asked myself the same question.
Ticketgate Scandal
So, from what I gather, the TFCRCC was given a plethora of tickets to give to volunteers. Chance told one person (not a PC) that they were for PCs who worked multiple shifts. He then told another (a PC that only worked one shift) that they were for people who worked multiple shifts. Chance told me that they were for volunteers, not PCs. Basically, it sounds like he changed the ticket guidelines for whoever he was talking to so they would not get a pass to get in. It makes me wonder who actually received tickets. In my opinion, either all booth workers get free entry into the fair, or none of them. Once again, the “establishment’ Republicans are picking winners and losers!
Call To Action
Wednesday, September 10th – County West @ 6:30pm
The Twin Falls County Republican Central Committee
- On the agenda is the replacement of two Precinct Committeemen positions. Since the bylaws state proxy voting is not allowed, it will be one of the few times that most of the elected PCs will actually attend a Central Committee meeting. Which makes this meeting a great opportunity to track down your precinct’s elected PC and ask them questions, for example: Why don’t you attend the TFCRCC on a regular basis? Why didn’t you work at the Fair booth? What have you done as my PC since you were elected? What is your stance on the upcoming initiatives, grocery tax repeal and abortion?
Saturday, September 13th – Filer Fire & EMS District Training Room @ 2:00pm
MVLA presents Elections Expert, Mark Cook
- Mark will share information on national and local elections and critical steps that should be taken right here by our Twin Falls County Elections Department.
Editorial Note: This article contains information that I either saw first-hand, was told by trusted sources, or from the signup spreadsheet. If other PCs worked at the fair booth, it was not on the sign-up spreadsheet emailed to me.
