The winner of the 2011 Dottie Stimpson Award is Betty Murphy. Betty Murphy became involved in the Blaine County Democratic Party in 1994, and she has worked tirelessly ever since for campaigns and on projects that benefited the county and statewide Democratic Party.
She worked on Idaho Representative Wendy Jaquet’s first campaign and every one since for the past 16 years. Betty also worked for the campaigns of Idaho Representatives Donna Pence and for Idaho Senator Clint Stennett. When Clint died, she also worked for the election of Michelle Stennett.
Betty has served as the IDWC coordinator for Blaine County, was elected Chair for Region 5 of the IDWC, and served on the State Democratic Executive Committee for four years.
Betty organized and coordinated selection of a replacement for Blaine County Commissioner in 2007. The selection of Angenie McCleary was endorsed by her re-election in 2010. We now have all Democratic County Commissioners. Thanks in no small part to Betty’s hard work over the years, all elected positions in Blaine County, with the exception of Sun Valley Mayor Willick, are held by Democrats.
In all of her varied posts, she has organized training sessions, held special educational meetings with local politicians for teenagers, recruited and organized volunteers, got out mailings, knocked on doors, and so many other tasks needed to support campaigns, the local Democratic Party, and the IDWC. She also opened and staffed our first Blaine County Headquarters, including raising money to pay the rent for the headquarters.
Betty also organized the largest Blaine County Democratic Caucuses in support of Sen. John Kerry for President, worked for the gubernatorial campaign of Ambassador Alan Blinken. She organized voter registration drives, bake sales, and one movie showing about voter registration. She also organized a very successful fundraiser at the home of Ambassador and Mrs. Alan Blinken and another with Carol King that attracted 4,000-5,000. She also worked on a fundraiser for Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign and the Blaine County Presidential Inaugural Ball.
Currently, Betty serves as State Committeewoman for Blaine County, a precinct captain, and as IDWC Director of Region 5.
Runner-up Judy Ferro (IDWC Region 3)
Judy (Willmorth) Ferro was born into an Idaho family of readers, teachers, story tellers—and Democrats. She loves to tell about how her Grandmother Willmorth—upset over Democrats supporting “legalized gaming”—walked to the polls and cast blank ballots rather than vote for a Republican.
The First Congressional District in which Judy grew up had a long stream of Democratic Representatives—Compton I. White, Sr.; Gracie Pfost; and Compton I. White, Jr. Her first job after graduating from Stanford University was working in White, Jr.’s D.C. office.
Judy’s political voice was muted for years while she was teaching school, keeping books for her husband’s repair shop, and raising her two daughters. In 1998, however, angry over victory by Helen Chenowith, she became active in the Canyon County Democrats. Since then, she has served as District Chair, State Committeewoman, County Vice Chair, and County Chair.
Judy has worked at establishing a voice for Democrats in Canyon County, in drawing young people into the party, and at broadening the leadership base. This past year—reluctant to see newcomer Leif Skyving tackle District 10 alone—she ran against Rep. Pat Takasugi and lost.
Widowed in 2001, Judy has two grown daughters—Cindi and Toni—and four granddaughters —Amanda, Brandi, Catanah, and Dakatah. She has just published her first novel—Desiderata. an historical fiction set in Charlemagne’s 8th century court.
What is the Dottie Stimpson Award?
The Dottie Stimpson award “honors a woman who has demonstrated perseverance, persistence, patience, passion, commitment and leadership such as Dottie Stimpson has over the years as she founded the Idaho Democratic Women’s Caucus. Dottie’s work on behalf of the Democratic Party and the Women’s Caucus has been significant, and in this way we honor her loyalty, energy, and support.”
Dottie Stimpson, a long-time Democratic activist in Washington, D.C., before moving to Idaho in 1990, is a former Idaho Democratic National Committee member and co-founder of the IDWC. In January 2001, the IDWC announced the first annual award named for Dottie.
The award is presented annually at the winter meeting of the IDWC in Boise following the Frank Church Dinner. (This year’s meeting was held on Sunday, February 27, 2011.)