Bradshaw pushes against limits

Calls for Little to lift restrictions or step down

SANDPOINT — Bonner County Commissioner Steven Bradshaw is joining Sheriff Daryl Wheeler in calling on Gov. Brad Little to lift restrictions put in place because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“Once the science and medical facts started coming forth it became obvious that this was less than a ‘catastrophic pandemic.’ Your recent choices have obviously been orchestrated from someone or somewhere else,” Bradshaw said in a June 25 open letter to the governor.

Bradshaw joins Wheeler and Idaho Rep. Heather Scott in pushing back against the state’s stay-home order.

Bradshaw contends the governor’s state-at-home order violates the U.S. and Idaho constitutions and references an open letter Pastor John Cleveland wrote to Gen. Thomas Gage, the British commander-in-chief during the American Revolution.

Cleveland is unsparing in his broadside of Gage, whom he calls a robber, murderer and a wicked rebel.

“Without speedy repentance, you will have an aggravated damnation in hell,” Cleveland wrote.

Bradshaw takes a swipe at Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, whom he accuses of drafting Idaho’s reopening plan with Little. Bradshaw said Little took an oath to serve Idaho residents but has instead abandoned them and cause irreparable damage by robbing them of their livelihoods.

“I can only hope you become the honorable leader we elected you to be or step down and pass the torch to a true leader,” Bradshaw said in the letter’s conclusion.

Bradshaw, a Republican who faces Democrat Steve Johnson in this fall’s general election, sent the letter on June 25, but has yet to receive a response.

“Nothing,” Bradshaw said on Wednesday.

Bradshaw, who is pastor of the Cocolalla Cowboy Church said he was moved to write the letter after coming across the Cleveland letter in a book about the Black Robe Regiment, influential clergymen who promoted American independence and supported the military struggle against Britain.

“It’s a story about the pastors during the Revolutionary war. Most of them ended up being leaders,” said Bradshaw.

Another motivation for penning the letter was a conference call Little had with Idaho county commissioners in which he suggested they consult with their counterparts in surrounding states for advice on dealing with the pandemic.

“I thought, why do I care what they’re doing. We’re in Idaho. We’re not in Washington, Oregon, Montana or Wyoming,” he said.

Little’s office did not respond to a request for comment on Bradshaw’s letter on Wednesday.

Another conference call between Little and Idaho county commissioners is set for today.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.