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Foster Steps Down

Big news from yesterday was that after less than a year in the position, Idaho Democratic Party Executive Director, John Foster, will step down.  NewWest Boise and Boise Weekly both have snippets which cite family reasons for Foster's move.  This news comes on the heels of arguably the most successful Democratic caucus in Idaho history—definitely the best attended.

From this vantage point, probably the most visible change Foster made since taking over the ExDir position in late April last year, was the IDP's embrace of new technology and new media, including bloggers.  Foster came from a journalism background and had been managing editor at the Idaho Business Review where he wrote the IBR's BizBlog prior to accepting the position.

Perhaps in the most significant example of this, Foster announced in a conference call with bloggers that this year's Frank Church Banquet would feature keynote speaker Markos Moulitsas Zúniga, founder of the most influential national progressive blog, Daily Kos.  He also announced that Daily Kos would be an official sponsor of the event, with members funding grassroots training and helping defray the cost of attending the banquet for Idaho bloggers.

Of course when being surprised by a significant move such as this, we all like to more closely examine its meaning.  In this case, did Foster's embrace of new media, or more specifically bloggers, play any role in this move?  There's not any evidence of that right now but there is this.  When former party chairman Richard Stallings resigned in late December, along with other bloggers, I received the press-release.  For Foster's resignation, I did not.

February 12, 2008 at 10:51 AM in Idaho Democrats |

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JDem

I really liked John Foster. I wonder what the real story is.

Posted by: JDem | February 12, 2008 at 12:50 PM

MountainGoat

I liked him too. And as always, I'm very curious when strange things happen at strange times.

Posted by: MountainGoat | February 12, 2008 at 04:20 PM

sharon fisher

*Is* there a press release yet? There's not one on the IDP website, where Foster is still listed as Executive Director.

Posted by: sharon fisher | February 13, 2008 at 11:32 AM

MountainGoat

There was a release of some sort but I haven't seen it (maybe Jill got one since she had the write up at NewWest). I also noticed that he's still listed at the IDP website. I'm guessing they'll leave him on until mid-March when he's slated to actually leave.

Posted by: MountainGoat | February 13, 2008 at 06:16 PM

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MountainGoat
MountainGoat

Quotes For 2010

  • "The main thing is to keep everybody going down that road as we try to find the answers and solutions to all these problems. It'll be fun! We'll get it done." — Majority Leader Mike Moyle (R-Star) when asked in an Idaho Reports broadcast how the State House will handle making tough budget decisions this year, 1.29.10.

Quotes For 2009

  • "[Some politicians] wouldn't recognize the Constitution if it fell in their laps and called them Daddy." — Rep. Lenore Hardy Barrett (R-Challis) at a tea party tax protest.
  • "Just, you know, putting beans on the table." — former Congressman Bill Sali (R-ID-01) when asked by Nate Shelman (670 KBOI) what he's doing these days.
  • "I said yesterday we hope and pray things will get better before they get worse. It's obvious to me some of you need to do a better job of praying." — Sen. Dean Cameron (R-Rupert), Joint Finance-Appropriation Committee co-chair on the grim economic forecast facing the committee.
  • “We’ve been called a lot of things but we’ve never been called sneaks before.” — Rep. Maxine Bell (R-Jerome) in a budget dispute with the governor's staff over legislators' computer funding.
  • "I’m not wearing rose-tinted glasses. But I am a glass-half-full kind of guy." — Gov. C. L. "Butch" Otter attempting to remain optimistic while delivering tough economic news in his State of the State/Budget message.

Quotes For 2008

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Quotes For 2007

  • "Divorce is just terrible. It's one of Satan's best tools to kill America." — Rep. Dick Harwood (R-St. Maries) describing the work of the Idaho Legislature's Family Task Force.
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