Dems head back to the drawing board

SANDPOINT — Bonner County’s Democratic Central Committee is again seeking applications for potential nominees to complete the rest of county Clerk Marie Scott’s term in office.

The committee said on Wednesday that Clark Fork Realtor Terry Stevens withdrew his application. Laura Bry, the committee’s former chairwoman who now heads up the clerk search subcommittee, said Stevens stated a reason why he was withdrawing, but she declined to disclose it.

“I’m not commenting on it,” said Bry.

An email message seeking comment from Stevens was not immediately returned.

The committee is required to submit three nominees to the Bonner County commission and Stevens’ withdrawal leaves them one nominee shy of the requirement.

Steve Johnson and Jason Benell are still in the running as potential nominees, Bry said. The committee has received several more applications from potential nominees since Stevens’ withdrawal, although Bry declined to say who they were from.

Under Idaho Code, the committee has 15 days after Scott’s retirement takes effect to submit a list of nominees to the commission, which will pick Scott’s successor after a round of interviews. Scott’s retirement is set to start on July 1.

“The Democratic Central Committee is going to take its time,” Bry said.

The application process remains open. A deadline to submit applications is pending.

Those who are interested in the post can submit their applications by email at www.bonnerdemocrats.org or by calling Bry at 290-5261.