Idaho Supreme Court candidates to debate in Blackfoot
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BLACKFOOT — Idaho Supreme Court candidates Robyn Brody and Curt McKenzie will be in eastern Idaho this week to participate in a candidate forum in Bingham County.
The one-hour forum will be held at the Blackfoot Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. Thursday. The event is free and open to the public.
The candidates are seeking the seat currently held by outgoing Justice Jim Jones.
Brody and McKenzie were originally among four candidates who sought the office during the May primary election. However, no candidate came out with a large majority, which triggered a runoff election. Brody and McKenzie were the top vote-getters with Brody taking 30 percent of the vote, and McKenzie taking 28 percent.
Both candidates have committed to attend the debate.
Bingham County Republican Central Committee Chairman Dan Cravens said the event is motivated by a lack of voter knowledge regarding the candidates.
“I received before the May primary calls from several voters asking me about the candidates running for Idaho Supreme Court,” Cravens said in a news release. “The Idaho Supreme Court is one of the three branches of our state government. It seemed like to the Bingham County Republican Central Committee that there is an opportunity here to better inform the voters.”
Questions for the debate will be written by the event sponsors, Bingham County GOP Central Committee, the We the People student organization and the Idaho State Journal. Members of the public attending the debate can submit written questions to the candidates, according to a news release.
None of the sponsors are endorsing a candidate. Cravens said the goal of the debate is to help educate voters of the region regarding the candidates’ positions, and inform the public about the important role of the Idaho Supreme Court.
About the candidates
Robyn Brody has been practicing law in the Magic Valley for nearly 20 years. She is a graduate of the University of Denver and has earned a law degree, as well as a master’s degree in international business. She runs her own law firm in Rupert. For more information about her, visit her website at www.brodyforsupremecourt.com/.
Curt McKenzie’s legal career began as an attorney with a large law firm in Washington, D.C. He returned to Idaho to serve as a deputy prosecuting attorney, representing Idaho in prosecuting criminal cases. He currently serves on the Idaho State Senate has served as chairman of the Senate State Affairs Committee. He also runs his own law firm in Nampa. For more information about him, visit his website at www.mckenzie4idaho.com/.
Questions about the debate can be directed to Committee Chairman Dan Cravens at (208) 380-3075.