Forum focus was on issues

PRIEST RIVER — Candidate forums in Bonner County can either cover a lot of ground or serve merely as a venue for rival political entourages and candidates to exchange verbal gunfire.

There were a few potshots and some sniping at Friday night’s forum at Blue Lake, but the discussion centered mostly on the issues heating up the races for sheriff and county commissioner — public services, land use, EMS and the $10 million plan to upgrade detention centers.

Nearly all the candidates had something to say about the plan to replace the juvenile detention unit with a bigger facility and construct a 60-bed work release center. District 2 Commissioner Joe Young and

Sheriff Elaine Savage, both incumbent Republicans, are behind the plan because it would serve current and future needs without requiring a bond election or levy increase.

But there were no shortage of challengers who disputed the need for a work release center and questioned why the public is not being given an opportunity to vote on the plan.

“I don’t believe anything should be built without the public deciding it,” said former Sheriff Chip Roos, who’s seeking the Republic nomination in a bid to regain office.

Daryl Wheeler, a Sandpoint Police officer also seeking the GOP nod, also believes the public’s right to vote on the plan should not be bypassed and that the work release center is overkill given the limited number of local inmates who would use the facility.

Wheeler is concerned taxpayers would be left holding the bag if inmate fees don’t cover construction and lease costs, and said a check with local employment services indicates jobs are not exactly abundant.

“How are we going to promise somebody a year-round, full-time job?” asked Wheeler.

Democrat Larry Hanna, who faces no competition in the primary sheriff’s race, said he still learning about the expansion proposal, but isn’t enamored with what he’s seen so far.

“I think it’s a waste of time and money at this point,” Hanna said.

Savage said the work release facility would help Bonner County inmates topping out their sentences with the Idaho Department of Correction transition back into the community through access to housing, employment and other programs. The facility will improve convicts’ chances of rejoining society instead of rejoining the prison system, according to Savage.

“The real win would be these people would be back into our community with some hope,” Savage said. “More prisons are not the answer.”

Savage also pointed out the work release center would keep contraband out of the jail, but former Deputy Geoff Rusho, another Republican seeking the nomination for sheriff, said there exists a much simpler solution.

“All you need to do is search those prisoners better,” said Rusho, who opposes the work release center but supports the juvenile detention unit project.

Rocky Jordan, the fifth Republican in the sheriff’s primary, supports both projects and doubts taxpayers will be paying the bill. Jordan said more room at the jail could inspire judges to impose lengthier sentences and he intends to get more deputies on the patrol beat.

“There’s going to be more deputies on the street — there has to be,” he said.

Young defended the decision not to put the matter to a vote and seek judicial confirmation of the plan because the proposal does not involve a levy hike.

“Both of those projects are being proposed with no new taxes,” said Young, who has no challenger in the primary and will face the winner of two-way race for the District 2 Democrat nomination between Patty Palmer and Brian Orr.

Palmer opposes the expansion because she contends the public is being denied the right to vote on it and the leases would amount to a taxpayer liability. Orr, a former commissioner, was absent from the forum.

Cornel Rasor, a Republican from Sagle running for the District 1 seat on the commission, also believes the county is making a mistake by not allowing a public vote on the expansions.

Rasor said he’s running to ease the tax burden on property owners and restoring the shrinking freedoms in Bonner County as government continues to expand.

“I intend to be a servant and I intend to be an ear in the county courthouse,” said Rasor, who is critical of increasing land use regulations in the county.

John Reuter, who is vying with Rasor for the District 1 seat’s GOP nomination, said he supports land use laws as a way to limit sprawl and protect the county’s rural resources.

“I want to make sure that we have rural character in the county,” said Reuter.

The incumbent District 1 commissioner, Todd Crossett, did not attend the forum.

The increase in Planning Department fees was also discussed. Young admitted some fees climbed, but others were reduced. Palmer objected to any fees which were more than the service rendered.

“I don’t believe we should be in the business of making money off of public money,” said Palmer, who also believes the county should get out of the EMS business, which she called a “failed experiment.”

Young supports the county’s role in EMS, citing the abrupt withdrawal of two private sector services and the steep cost other services had proposed. Reuter also voiced support for Bonner County EMS, calling it a necessary, basic service. Rasor said he was “loathe” to see the county get involved in EMS and believes the public deserved a vote on that as well.