Bradshaw responsible for deputy’s presence

The Bee recently printed an article by Lauren Reichenbach under the misleading headline “Bradshaw Responds to Complaint Questions.” A discerning reader would expect the article to be about Bonner County Commissioner Steve Bradshaw’s remarks during an interview. Instead, the article quotes an unnamed individual asking if she could also get a taxpayer-funded bodyguard. There is no bodyguard but Ms. Reichenbach didn’t bother to factcheck that comment.

The sheriff’s deputy is present because Bradshaw is under a court order not to possess a weapon on county property and he is subject to being searched. The deputy is there not as a bodyguard for Williams, but rather to ensure Bradshaw does not violate the civil protection order. Bradshaw has the option to attend meetings by Zoom, which would completely alleviate the problem, but he insists on attending in person. Steve Bradshaw, the commissioner who takes from the taxpayers and gives nothing in return, is solely responsible for his actions and solely responsible for the expense of having law enforcement present when he attends meetings.