Attack ads resurface in mayor's race

SANDPOINT — Another round of racially-charged ads attacking Sandpoint mayoral candidate Shelby Rognstad is lighting up local phone lines.

The most recent ad, which people began receiving on Thursday, is similar to an earlier attack ad which invoked race, gender and class issues in assailing Rognstad.

Both Rognstad and Mose Dunkel, Rognstad’s competitor in the mayoral race, denounced the earlier attack ads. The creator of the robo-call smear campaign said in the message that the ad was from “ordinary citizens of Sandpoint” and not a political candidate.

The latest ad doubles down on its stoking of racial politics by accusing Rognstad of affirmative-action hiring policies for performances in Sandpoint. Rognstad is co-owner of The Hive, which draws in a variety of musical groups, including hip hop acts.

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