Idaho Freedom Foundation lands its first old-guard corporate partner: Idahos biggest power company.

It took three years, but the group now has the public support of one of Idahos most venerable and influential institutions.

Its a little surprising, but maybe itll give the Freedom Foundation more clout, said Rep. Steve Thayn, R-Emmett, who is among the sponsors of the foundations 3rd Annual Idaho Freedom Celebration and Banquet in Garden City on July 19.

Thayn said he and his wife, Sherry, paid $500 to be listed as bronze sponsors. Idaho Power is a silver sponsor, and LaMont Keen, the companys president and CEO, and his wife, Vicki, are gold sponsors. The Keens backed last years banquet as individuals, but the compa-ny did not appear on the 2011 sponsor list.

IFF was founded in 2009, but until now Idahos traditional business powers had kept their distance. Republican Gov. Butch Otter wrote a fundraising appeal for the group last year, and GOP Sen. Mike Crapo did the same this year.

Keen did not reply to a request for comment Tuesday. The companys vice president for public affairs, Jeff Malmen, did not return calls Tuesday or Wednesday. Malmen is a former chief of staff to Otter and former GOP Gov. Phil Batt.

Look, were a growing organization, and were an organization that people find has value, said IFF Executive Director Wayne Hoffman. I have a lot of respect for Idaho Power and for LaMont and Vicki Keen. Great company. Great people.

Hoffman, a former Statesman reporter, was a spokesman for former GOP Congressman Bill Sali and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna. Luna and Otter attended last years banquet, which drew about one-quarter of the Republicans in the Legislature.

Founded in 1916, Idaho Power has leaned Republican but supported Democratic Gov. Cecil Andrus in the 1980s and 1990s. The company is a leading force in the states biggest business lobby, the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry. Earlier this year, IFF helped kill an effort by IACI to create a state-run health insurance exchange.

IACI President Alex LaBeau said Idaho Powers support might be a result of an enticing July program at the Riverside Hotel. Speakers for the $50 dinner are Fox TV commentator Andrew Napolitano and Frank VanderSloot, CEO of Idaho Falls-based Melaleuca. Both are very good speakers, and thats attractive to corporate donors, LaBeau said.

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Idaho Power joins forces with libertarian group Idaho Freedom Foundation