Why are there officials if rules govern county?

My ever-loving husband is always asking questions, I must ask a few for he is driving me bonkers.

1. Does the planning director work directly for the county commissioners? If this is correct, what did Joe Young mean in the Daily Bee (June 18, 2005), when he said her duties were in accordance with Idaho state directives?

2. Does the assessor work for the county taxpayers or for some other entity because my husband says he was told that everything the assessor does is in accordance with state directives (code)? If the answers to the above are yes, why do we need high-paid county commissioners?

My husband says to me that previous commissioners have stated that this county and all other Idaho counties are held hostage to one county's state committee chairperson who has the power to keep all counties from getting property tax relief.

If this is true why do we need state representatives or state senators who have no say on our taxation? Why not get rid of all county commissioners and let Boise tell us what to do, then we would know who to vote out of office?

EILEEN E. BLAKE

Sandpoint