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Early voting has begun!
- Vote at the County Admin Bldg, Hwy 2 and Division, M-F, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, May 3 - May 14.
- Or request your absentee ballot by 5 pm this Friday, at IdahoVotes.gov.
Remind your friends and family to vote!
Voting Guide
for the May 18th, 2021 Election
- The races listed on your ballot will vary depending on where you live in Bonner County.
- Northern Lights ballots are mailed separately.
- East Bonner County Library Board: Re-elect Jeanine Asche and Amy Flint
- Pend Oreille Hospital Board: Re-elect Dr. Thomas Lawrence, MD, and Helen Parsons
- West Bonner County School Board Levy: Vote YES
- Northern Lights Electric Co-Operative Board: Re-elect Dave Pemberton (ballots for this race are due by May 10 at 5 pm!)
For more detailed information on these races, the candidates, and their opponents, read on!
East Bonner County Library Board
Jeanine Asche was born and raised in Idaho, and has lived in Sandpoint for 9 years.
- Incumbent Trustee, past chairperson and volunteer
- Library Science degree (MLS)
- 40 years of library experience
- Has served as president, treasurer and secretary on non-profit boards and library associations
- Experience with grant writing, program development, budget and personnel management
Amy Flint has been an Idaho resident for more than 30 years:
- Incumbent Trustee and current chairperson
- Retired North Idaho College English Professor (18 years)
- Family Services Coordinator, Sandpoint Head Start (9 years)
- Member, former board member, and former President of Angels Over Sandpoint
- Acquisition’s assistant, Western Illinois University, Leslie F. Malpass Library
The challengers:
Jalon Peters – leader of the anti-mask protests at the library. He has no library experience, is running primarily to oppose the mask policy, and is an unqualified challenger.
Kathy Rose ‑ Also running to oppose the mask policy, and against “cancel culture” of “book burning” and “removing books” that promote racial stereotypes.* Her bio only lists unpaid positions with local Republican groups here and in Pelham, MA. She lists no library experience and is an unqualified challenger.
*https://redoubtnews.com/2021/04/running-for-trustee-of-east-bonner-county-library
Pend Oreille Hospital Board
Dr. Thomas Lawrence, MD, has been a Sandpoint resident for more than 40 years.
- Board member for Pend Oreille Hospital Board since 1985, currently Chairman
- Trustee for Bonner General Health Board since 1991
- Practiced medicine in Sandpoint from 1977 - 2017
- Past Medical Director for Kaniksu Health Services (4 years)
Helen Parsons is a 3rd-generation Sandpoint resident.
- Appointed to Board in 2019 to fill vacancy
- Worked for Sandpoint Women’s Health for 28 years
- Strong supporter of local health care providers
The challengers:
Jessie Joann Peters – married to Jalon Peters (see above). Family nurse practitioner. Registered Idaho voter since 2020.
Julie Berreth – 30 years of marketing, branding and production experience across multiple media platforms. Zero healthcare experience.
Dolores “Dodie” Glass – Ms. Glass believes it is overkill to direct people (especially elders) to wear masks all the time, and cited her experience in the hospital wearing masks to protect against bacteria but felt masks were not effective against virus. Phone number of record is from Sacramento. Registered Idaho voter since 2018.
West Bonner County School Board Levy
The levy failed in March by just 122 votes. This is a replacement levy and not a new tax or an increase. WBCSD has the lowest levy rate in North Idaho. They do more with less and are not asking for an increase in the rate amount. This levy gives our kids similar opportunities as the kids in neighboring school districts. If this fails, our kids will not be getting the same quality of education we received here in Idaho.
The levy covers:
- 25% of the operating budget for our schools
- Continuation of all-day kindergarten
- School safety measures
- Building maintenance such as roof repairs at 4 schools
- Athletics, art, drama - subjects needed for students to be competitive for college applications
- Curriculum materials
Northern Lights, Inc. - Electric Cooperative Board, NL District 4 (South of the Long Bridge, east of Hwy 95)
David Pemberton is a long-time Bonner County resident who has done an exemplary job serving on the NL Board for nine years. He is a Vietnam Vet who fell in love with the peacefulness of this area. He and his wife work with a nonprofit whose focus is on Veterans, providing them with a second chance.
Mr. Pemberton's achievements and qualifications:
- Acquired the grant for NL’s solar lights education project.
- Working to bring broadband access to NL’s rural customers.
- 22 years of experience as a utility technician
- 17 years as a general contractor
- Qualified, certified and credentialed
- Member of a Northern Lights board that has 90% customer satisfaction
- Member of a Northern Lights board that offers the lowest rates in the U.S.
The challenger:
Thomas Fletcher, who moved here from Texas, has only attended one Northern Lights board meeting in three years, has listed no qualifications, and is running a negative campaign based on falsehoods.
Remember to VOTE
It is vital that we vote in every single election in Bonner County to preserve the integrity of the boards and committees that uphold our community’s character and the services we rely on. Please remember to vote in the upcoming May 18th election and remind family and friends to vote as well. Request your absentee ballot, vote now at the County Admin Bldg at Hwy 2 and Division, or find your polling place at IdahoVotes.gov.
Thank you,
The Bonner County Democratic Central Committee
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