Candidate forum draws big crowd

SANDPOINT — A forum for candidates seeking elected office in Bonner County and the Idaho Legislature drew an overflow crowd at the East Bonner County Library on Tuesday evening.

Attendance spilled out of the conference room and into a neighboring room where video from the forum was streamed live.

All candidates were asked for their positions on the proposed PacWest Silicon smelter proposal south of Newport, while county candidates were quizzed on their thoughts on land-use codes, budgeting. State candidates, meanwhile, were asked about Medicaid expansion, climate change and public school funding.

Both county commission District 3 candidates Democrat Steve Lockwood and incumbent Republican Dan McDonald stood for questions, as did District 1 candidates Republican Steve Bradshaw and Democrat Steve Johnson.

Assessor candidates Donna Gow, a Republican, and independent Wendel Bergman attended, but were not asked any direct questions. Bonner Soil & Water Conservation candidates Dale Van Stone and Terry McGuirk also attended, but also faced no questions from the audience.

Incumbent Republican House reps. Sage Dixon and Heather Scott were in attendance, as were their Democratic challengers, Stephen Howlett and Ellen Weissman, respectively. Republican state senate candidate Jim Woodward attended, but his Democratic challenger Vera Gadman did not.

A complete story on the forum, which was put on by the Sandpoint Reader and radio station KRFY, will be published in Thursday’s edition of the Daily Bee.