Governor appoints Bailey to Dist. 1 commission seat
SANDPOINT — Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter appointed Glen Bailey Friday to the Bonner County board of commissioners.
Bailey was among three finalists selected by Bonner County Republican Central Committeemen on March 5. He will serve out former Commissioner Joyce Broadsword’s two-year term.
Broadsword clinched the GOP nomination from former commission Chairman Cornel Rasor during last year’s primary and prevailed against Steve Johnson, an independent, in the general election.
But Broadsword resigned shortly after taking office in January to accept a job as a regional director for the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare. Her departure required the Republican committeemen to nominate three candidates in order of preference.
Former state senate candidate Dennis Engelhardt was the committee’s top pick, followed by Rasor and Bailey, a 1st District Court bailiff.
The governor’s office did not specify its rationale for Bailey’s appointment.
Bailey, 56, said he was happy to win the appointment, but was a little surprised in light of his competition. Bailey described Engelhardt and Rasor as “outstanding” candidates.
“I do appreciate everybody that supported me,” he added.
It’s Bailey’s first foray into elected office since college.
The Daily Bee conducted a simple online poll last week asking people who they would like to see appointed.
As of late Friday afternoon, Rasor collected 58 votes (31.7 percent), while Bailey got 32 votes (17.5 percent). Engelhardt won 19 votes (10.4 percent). A majority of the poll respondents — 74 people, or 40.4 percent — said they wanted none of the listed candidates appointed.
Broadsword overwhelmingly won the general election and her abrupt departure rankled some of the supporters who put her in office. They contended that the resignation effectively nullified their votes.
Those who wanted a say in the appointment of Broadsword’s successor ran into further disappointment when, according to party rules, only precinct committeemen were allowed to vote on the short list of candidates for Otter to draw from.
Bailey is a retired U.S. Air Force officer who lives in Cocolalla. He earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Utah in 1980, graduating cum laude.
He attained a master’s degree from the University of Southern California in 1988, according to his résumé.
He was stationed at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska, from 1989 to 2002, where he served as a detachment commander at the office of special investigation, an inspector general and commander of the 168th Air Refueling Squadron.
Bailey operated a financial planning business in Bonner County for nine months before relocating to Great Falls, Mont., where he was a mission planning support representative for the Montana Air National Guard.
He was hired as court bailiff in Bonner County in 2008.
Bailey is slated to take his oath of office at 10:30 a.m. on Monday at the Bonner County Administration Building. Although the public is invited to attend, seating will be limited.
“I’ve got my homework for the weekend,” Bailey said.