Oldest freshman learning the ropes

On a typical day at his new job, John Ahern parks his '86 Honda beside the Capitol, the car's rusting paint job and cracked seats a contrast to the sandstone steps gracing the front of the building.

Ahern walks through historic marbled halls, past a Tiffany-made chandelier hanging from the interior of the dome, into the House of Representatives chamber with its 98 walnut desks.

Getting used to such surroundings is "like being a freshman in college," says the Spokane Republican, who is this Legislature's oldest freshman representative at age 66.

The House chamber exudes a sense of formality that intimidates most newcomers. And while other politicians - even more-experienced ones - play it cool in front of colleagues, Ahern doesn't.

Sporting gray hair and a ready smile, the 6th District lawmaker will scratch his head, think a moment and blurt out a question. Later, he'll receive a gentle reprimand from a mentor who suggests the new legislator choose his speaking opportunities more carefully.

Ahern's assistant, Charlotte Karling, says he is exactly what the Founding Fathers envisioned.

"He's a citizen legislator," Karling says. "His perspective is more with real people, common people."

Karling describes her boss as an ordinary man who has worn out his shoes selling toner and copy machines for the Spokane business he owns, Janco Products. Ahern understands the needs of his constituents, she says, because he's one of them.

Ahern knows what he wants to do in Olympia. Sometimes he just has a hard time saying it.

"I'm going to be supporting a bill, or endorsing, or starting a bill," he says. Then he turns to his press adviser and asks, "What do you call it?"

The young man responds: "Sponsoring a bill."

Yet, Ahern was involved in politics at the age of 4. Going door- to-door, he helped his father - a Democrat - win a seat in the Montana Legislature.

A lifelong salesman who long ago traded his Democratic roots for bedrock Republicanism, Ahern narrowly defeated former Spokane Mayor Jack Geraghty in the November election.

Since the legislative session opened in January, Ahern seems to have hit the ground running, perhaps a bit too hard.

He has signed his name to more than 30 bills. One would make operation of a methamphetamine lab a "strike" under the state's "three strikes, you're out" law, which requires a life sentence after a conviction for a third violent crime. Another bill, co-sponsored with Spokane Democratic Rep. Jeff Gombosky, would toughen penalties for sex offenders.

But, Ahern says, he has been advised by mentors: "Don't sign on to too many bills as a freshman." And if he has learned one thing in Olympia, he says, it's: "You've got to listen to your mentors."

Most of this year's House newcomers have some prior governmental experience, Ahern says. "I'm probably about the only one who has had absolutely zero governmental experience."

At Ahern's disposal: Nine years of legislative know-how in the form of Rep. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville.

"He's cool, calm and collected," says Ahern of his Republican mentor.

More than 20 years Ahern's junior, Schoesler says he enjoys his leadership role despite one awkward element.

"It's still a little hard to tell somebody your dad's age how the process works."

Age, Ahern says, doesn't make any difference because Schoesler's got the wisdom needed in Olympia.

Duane Sommers, the Republican whose retirement opened up the seat Ahern now occupies, credits Ahern's electoral success to the fact that he's a salesman.

That's been Ahern's occupation in Spokane for the last 30 years.

Sommers says he supported Ahern reluctantly - until he won the primary - because Monty Cobb, Ahern's GOP opponent, had governmental experience.

But JoAnne McCann, Ahern's campaign manager, didn't care about political experience when she asked Ahern to run for the vacant seat; she just liked him as a person.

"He believes in Republican principles," she says.

For one, Ahern is stoutly against abortion.

"I'm pro-life 100 percent," he says. "And I don't mind you printing that either."

Ahern campaigned on a platform of privatizing parts of state government and eliminating some business taxes to encourage economic growth.

But Ahern started out as a Democrat.

"Basically, the Democratic Party left me - I never left it," he says.

According to Ahern, the defining moment occurred when U.S. Sen. Abraham Ribicoff, D-Conn., made a hard-hitting speech criticizing Chicago Mayor Richard Daley for forceful police tactics used to control protesters at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

"He did this on television, totally embarrassed Daley, and I got to thinking, `By God, I am no longer a Democrat,'" Ahern says.

There are two main elements to Republican politics, Ahern says. "You're a fiscal conservative, you're a social conservative or a combination."

Ahern says he's both.

Coming from the business world, Ahern is accustomed to more control over outcomes.

"The biggest surprise really, on these bills, is you don't get everything you want."

Another surprise was being asked to run in the first place.

When McCann asked him to consider seeking the office, Ahern's first response was to ask his wife of 37 years, Nancy.

She gave her blessing - with a condition. She wanted to be left out of politics.

Ahern told his wife, "Don't you worry, Dear, no problem" - something he now confesses was more than just a little lie.

The salesman-turned-politician - who includes his wife in most everything - laughs and says, "It's the biggest lie I ever told."

Copyright 2001 Cowles Publishing Company
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