NorthwestJuly 22, 2000

Michael R. Wickline

Former Idaho Republican Party Chairman Ron McMurray says he is going to close the account from his unsuccessful 1994 campaign for Congress, although he still owes himself $71,183.

But the 60-year-old Lewiston native says he's going to keep open the campaign account from this year's unsuccessful bid for Congress.

McMurray said he owes himself an additional $25,000 after loaning $40,000 to this year's congressional campaign and paying himself back some of that money.

His campaign reported $4,856 in cash on hand as of June 30.

"I have had various people write letters and call and say, 'Ron, let me help you work off your debt,' " he said Friday.

McMurray contends his stock is high in the Idaho Republican Party because he served as its chairman between 1996 and 1999 and he ran a clean campaign for Congress.

Nearly two months ago, McMurray finished in third place in the Republican primary for Idaho's 1st District seat behind Lt. Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter and Idaho Family Forum founder Dennis Mansfield. He emerged as a critic of Mansfield in the waning weeks of the campaign.

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Otter faces Moscow Democrat Linda Pall, Libertarian candidate Ron Wittig of New Meadows and Reform Party candidate Kevin Hambsch of Boise in the November general election.

The Republican incumbent, Helen Chenoweth-Hage, isn't seeking re-election because she limited herself to serving three two-year terms in Congress.

In the middle of last August, McMurray left his full-time job as the general manager for the company managing the Port of Lewiston's warehouse to campaign.

The former Port of Lewiston manager and commissioner said he still is searching for a job.

"I would really like to stay here, but nothing has happened yet,'' he said.

"I have a lot of applications in a lot of places. I hope something happens soon."

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