Bonner County prosecutor receives Mills/Adler Award

SANDPOINT - The Idaho Association of Counties is honoring Bonner County Prosecutor Phil Robinson with the Mills/Adler Award, an accolade bestowed upon elected officials who strive to improve local government.

Bonner County commissioners presented Robinson with the award on Tuesday. Six other county officials in Idaho were also honored by the IAC during its annual conference in Idaho Falls.

Commission Chairman Lewis Rich said Robinson's award is well-deserved.

"This is a man who I've seen attacked many times in the media," Rich said.

The award is named after the late Darwin Mills, a former Lincoln County sheriff, and the late Betty Adler, a former treasurer in Payette County.

Robinson, a born-and-raised Bonner County resident, was appointed deputy prosecutor in 1977 and elected as prosecutor in 1982. The Sandpoint High School graduate was re-elected in 1984 and 1988, but stepped down from office 1993.

He ran again in 1996 and was re-elected in 2000 and 2004. Robinson is not seeking another term.

Deputy Prosecutor Louis Marshall, a Republican, is running to succeed Robinson and has no challenger in the Nov. 4 general election.

During his career, Robinson has served in the National Association of Counties in various capacities. He has also been a Peace Officer Standards & Training educator and an instructor at North Idaho and Lewis & Clark colleges, and the University of Idaho.

Robinson co-founded Bonner County's children-at-risk program and the county's Youth Accountability Board.

In May, the Idaho Supreme Court honored Robinson with its annual Children's Advocate & Protection Award. He also received the a distinguished service award for child protection from the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare in 2006.