Schenck runs on experience

SANDPOINT — Russ Schenck has never been a county commissioner, but that doesn’t mean he lacks any political and business experience.

Schenck, a Clark Fork Republican, has served on the Clark Fork City Council for the last 13 years, in addition to operating Clark Fork Valley Ambulance and the Lightning Creek trailer park.

“My time on the city council has gained me a considerable amount of oversight into governance, budgeting and personnel issues,” said Schenck.

Schenck, 49, faces incumbent District 3 Commissioner Lewis Rich and former Commissioner Gene Brown in Tuesday’s primary election.

Schenck said people in the community have been prodding him to run for the office over the years, not so much because of unhappiness with sitting commissioners, but because he has a proven track record of serving the community.

Schenck shot down a rumor raised during a candidate forum earlier in the week that he was persuaded to run by Sheriff Daryl Wheeler in an attempt to shake the board up.

Schenck said he doesn’t know what to make of the rumor or its inspiration.

“The first time I heard that (rumor) was that night,” said Schenck, referring to the forum hosted by Keokee Publishing and the Bonner County Economic Development Corp.

Schenck said he has worked hard to run a clean campaign that focused on his qualifications and experience, rather than delving into the personal politics heating up other races.

“I’m all for starting out and moving forward. I don’t dwell a heck of a lot on the past. I just want to jump in there with both feet and do the best darn job I can,” he said.

He does, however, question some of the board’s handling of federal emergency communications grant that had to be turned back because of a looming deadline and its initial approach to relocating the Green Owl Dumpster site.

The lifelong county resident has been Clark Fork Valley Ambulance’s board president for the last 15 years and holds seats on the county’s EMS and interoperable communications advisory boards. He retired from the Clark Fork Fire Department after 17 years.

Schenck intends on keeping his council seat while scaling back his in-the-field role with the ambulance service if he wins the primary and general elections.

Schenck bills himself as a fiscal conservative who makes decisions by way of thorough deliberation.

“I like to be able to hear somebody else’s opinion first and then form my own,” he said. “If we have a difference of opinion, then we talk about it.”