Court: Fundraiser arrested for probation violation
Friday, November 6, 2009 10:52 AM PST
BOISE (AP) — A Republican campaign consultant who has been paid more than $200,000 by Idaho candidates since 2008 was in jail Thursday after court officials said he violated probation for felony drunken driving.
Jason Lehosit, who has four DUIs since 1998, was arrested Wednesday. He has been drinking — a violation of his probation — since at least January, including ‘‘four or five times a month since July of 2009,’’ according to 4th District Court documents.
GOP leaders stood by the 33-year-old, saying they hope the head of Meridian Resources tackles his troubles.
Still, Lehosit’s arrest raises the question of whether candidates from Idaho’s dominant party will continue to professionally embrace a political operator who could become a campaign liability.
Efforts to reach Lehosit were unsuccessful. Thursday. Matt Rexroad, president of Meridian Resource’s parent company in Sacramento, didn’t return a call seeking comment. It could not be determined if Lehosit had retained a lawyer.
In February 2005, Lehosit lost his job as Gov. C.L. ‘‘Butch’’ Otter’s campaign manager following his fourth DUI arrest, which came a day after his sentencing for his third DUI.
High-profile GOP clientele of his Meridian Resources now include U.S. House candidate Vaughn Ward, who has paid the company about $9,000 since July; Otter, who has paid Lehosit’s company more than $70,000 since 2008; and Lt. Gov. Brad Little, who has given Lehosit nearly $10,000 over two years.
‘‘I’ve got to tell you, Jason is one of the brightest people in Idaho politics,’’ said Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake. ‘‘But I’m not sorry for what it will do to Idaho politics, I’m sorry for Jason.’’
Jorgenson paid Meridian Resources about $10,000 in 2008, according to the Idaho secretary of state.
After his fourth DUI, 4th District Judge Thomas Neville sentenced Lehosit to 120 days in jail and five years probation. He served only a fraction of the jail time but was forbidden to drink for five years, drive a car for three years and had to attend four Alcoholics Anonymous sessions weekly.
After a stint at a California treatment center, Lehosit re-emerged on Idaho’s political scene in July 2007 as a partner in Meridian Resources. In a letter to Judge Neville in March 2008, Lehosit said he’d turned his life around.
‘‘I am proud to say I’m a completely different person,’’ he wrote.
Following Wednesday’s arrest, however, Lehosit could face up to 180 days in jail. The Department of Correction will likely recommend he get seven days in jail and develop a new treatment regime, which is standard for a probation violation, said Jeff Ray, an agency spokesman.
Lehosit owes his reputation as one of Idaho’s top political operatives, in part, to his ability to connect GOP hopefuls with donors he began cultivating more than a decade ago as a youthful campaign worker during Phil Batt’s 1994 successful gubernatorial run.
Lehosit later worked for U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and Otter, burnishing his reputation as a go-to activist who could bring in cash.
On Jan. 30, for instance, Lehosit organized a lunchtime event for Little, the lieutenant governor, with 300 lobbyists and other supporters. Little, who raked in more than $6,000 that day, didn’t immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
Other lawmakers who have used Lehosit’s services include state Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, who paid Meridian Resources more than $20,000 for his 2008 campaign. Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, gave Lehosit’s company more than $25,000, and Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, sent Lehosit another $22,000.
Republicans were reluctant to speculate openly about Lehosit’s future in Idaho politics.
Jonathan Parker, state Republican Party executive director, declined comment. Vaughn Ward’s spokesman, Ryan O’Barto, said he needs to evaluate the situation.
Even candidates who lost Lehosit-managed campaigns contend his skills are unique in Idaho.
Among them is former state Rep. Mark Snodgrass, a Meridian Republican who paid Lehosit about $24,000 for broadcast advertising, brochures and management in 2008. He lost his primary challenge to incumbent Sen. Shirley McKague but says it wasn’t Lehosit’s fault.
‘‘I don’t think there’s anybody better in the valley, at helping people with their campaigns, knowing what to do and when to do it,’’ Snodgrass said. ‘‘I would have him run any campaign, in the past, present or in the future.’’
