Rich stands by his record

SANDPOINT — District 3 county Commissioner Lewie Rich is letting his record do the talking in the race for the Republican nomination.

“My record is who I am and my record, I believe, clearly speaks for itself. I’ve done the things that I’ve said I’m going to do,” said Rich, who seeks to fend off challengers Russ Schenck and Gene Brown in Tuesday’s primary.

Rich said his record will show that he’s responsive the questions and concerns raised by constituents, trimmed the county’s budget by $1 million without sacrificing public safety and road infrastructure budgets, and stood up to protect landowners’ rights.

Rich maintains that his opponents are making promises, while he points to results.

“I’m judged by my performance,” said Rich, who has been on the board for almost four years.

Rich defends the commissions’ efforts in providing a new juvenile detention center without a vote because it would not have resulted in tax increases for landowners. Without the facility, juvenile offenders would have to held in Kootenai County.

“I do not want to spend $90,000 a year with Kootenai County and that’s where we’re heading if we don’t fix it,” Rich said of the detention dilemma. “That problem’s not going to go away no matter how you want to look at what we’ve done.”

Rich said he’s been taking heat for the Federal Aviation Administration freeze on Sandpoint Airport funding because of a fly-in residential community that was approved by the city before he took office.

“I’m not a Boise-crat,” Rich added, referring to a criticism raised by Brown during a candidate forum.

Rich contends the board typically holds 50 percent more public hearings and meetings required under Idaho Code, and worked to manage development and growth in the county without stifling it.

“I do believe that growth control is necessary, but growth is needed and sensible planning is part of that growth,” he said.