Bee's candidates forum promises lively debate
Mark May 18 on your calendar if you want to cast an informed vote in the upcoming primary election.
The Daily Bee and Ponderay Community Development Corp. are combining to sponsor a candidates forum at Hooties in Ponderay. The event will begin at 6 p.m.
All candidates in contested primary races are invited to discuss issues at the forum. Other candidates may attend and all elected officials are invited.
There will be no admission charge. Me and my Casio stopwatch will guide the proceedings.
This is a very important election as our county is starting to show signs of being overwhelmed by growth issues. It would be my hope that we will receive straight answers about the myriad of issues facing us.
This will be one of the last chances to meet the candidates before the May 23 primary. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone who cast a ballot actually knew something about the candidates?
One of my pet peeves is that I fear the majority of voters mark ballots based entirely on how other people tell them to vote. I feel a minority of people base their votes on yard signs and newspaper ads and the slimmest of all minorities vote for a person they have talked with and with whom they share common concerns.
That's what this forum is all about. All of these candidates are our neighbors and have chosen to step up to help the community. That takes courage.
Consider this your personal invitation to learn more about the people who will be guiding Bonner County on May 18 at Hooties (Elks Golf Course) at 6 p.m. We'll see you there.
Having written all of that … there is absolutely no reason for anyone to pick up a Democratic ballot in the upcoming primary election on May 23.
It's my guess these folks who might vote Demo will hold their powder until the November general election but might try to influence the outcome in a few Republican races.
Idaho employs the straight party ticket for the primaries. If you are new to this, that means a voter has to choose between the two major parties in the primary.
Even if you "just vote for the person," you are shackled to just those people in one party in this election.
There are no local Democratic primary races. Nada. Zip. There are, though, some very interesting contests shaping up on the GOP side of things.
How about former county commissioner Jerry Clemons versus appraiser Carl White for county assessor? Democrat Judie Conlan awaits the winner.
The race that has generated the most buzz around the Bee and the county is the race for county commissioner in District 1.
Incumbent Marcia Phillips is facing an energized former county commissioner, Bud Mueller, and a surprisingly strong newcomer to politics, Lance Lane.
This will be the race where there might be some shenanigans with crossover voters. The winner of this primary will face a relative unknown Democrat, Todd Crossett.
The other commission race will also be tempting for crossover voters with commissioner Karl Dye facing off with Northside Fire District commissioner, Lewis Rich.
How about this for a slogan: Here in Bonner County we can all Dye Rich!
There is no Democrat in the general election in District 3.
It will be a very interesting primary race. I predict at least one upset.
Just so you know, during the last general election I endorsed and predicted the final outcome in every local and state race.
Times have changed … There were more limousines in town Saturday night for the Sandpoint prom than I have ever seen. One young man impressed his date by getting a ride in helicopter to fly to Coeur d'Alene for dinner and back to Sandpoint for the prom.
It seems like it was only 25 years ago that I had to borrow my mother's flower delivery van to pick up my date for the prom. I got the corsage for free but I had to clean out most of the van. And since you wondered, I didn't kiss her goodnight on the tulips when I dropped her off at home after the dance.
I was glad to see approval of North O'Northshore subdivision by the Sandpoint planning and zoning commission Wednesday night. The NON (AKA Maplewood Village) will soon be home to 51 residences in a field on Division.
Developers Robert Myers and Gary Parsons went back to the drawing board after Northshore residents dissected Myers' and Parsons' original plan last month at a planning and zoning meeting.
The first plan called for a 74-unit subdivision of townhouses for single-family duplexes. The P-Z commission was unanimous in its decision.
Development happens and will continue to happen. It's up to our leaders and residents to help guide what Sandpoint and Bonner County will accept. In this case, this was the best plan.
Attention Bloomies: The annual "Wear your Bloomie T-shirt photo" will take place at 5:30 p.m. this Monday at Farmin Park. Anyone wearing a Bloomsday shirt is welcome to be in the group photo.
E-mail of the week:
Living will
While watching the Daytona 500 a few weeks back, my wife and I were discussing life and death. I told her, "Just so you know, I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug."
She promptly got up, unplugged the TV and computer and threw out all my beer. Some days I hate being married to a smartie.
Online poll: 159 people voted in our latest online poll. The question was: "Do you think the legislative session was a success or failure?" 66 percent stated failure, 17 percent stated success and 16.4 percent voted a little of both.
This week's question:
Where do you shop for groceries?
? Yoke's
? Safeway
? Wal-Mart
? Other
David Keyes is publisher of the Bee. His column runs weekly.