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The losing candidate in a Coeur d’Alene City Council race filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the outcome, naming all council members as defendants, along with the mayor, the city clerk, and Kootenai County’s clerk and elections manager/Alison Boggs, SR. More here. And: Copy of Brannon lawsuit here.
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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Joker on December 01 at 10:46 a.m.
Yes, I think Brannon would win. Gookin too. These guys would mobilize and get their troops out in force.
DFO on December 01 at 10:56 a.m.
@ Joker re: “Yes, I think Brannon would win. Gookin too. These guys would mobilize and get their troops out in force.”
You raise an interesting issue. Is this lawsuit seeking to overturn the results of just Brannon’s election? Or all the Coeur d’Alene City Council elections on Nov. 3? I just put in a call to City Attorney Mike Gridley to interpret the lawsuit gobbledygook.
Charlie on December 01 at 11:38 a.m.
Not being up on legal issues but is everyone named in this law suit going to have to lawyer up? If so, who pays is Brannon loses?
Phaedrus on December 01 at 11:39 a.m.
I read the lawsuit last night, it appears to this non-attorney that they are asking for both- to overturn the entire city election—all 3 council seats— or just Brannon’s.
Phaedrus on December 01 at 11:43 a.m.
Good point Charlie, this lawsuit is placing a financial burden on the city, the county and each individual named; so much for Jim’s fiscal conservatism! The lawsuit claims that no bond needs to be posted by the plaintiff, but DOTC, in an earlier response, mentioned the need for a performance bond to cover the cost of the challenge should the challenger not prevail. 14 entities hiring attorneys, maybe $20,000?
Joker on December 01 at 11:49 a.m.
This lawsuit might be withdrawn if a judge orders a performance bond of say $50,000 for each defendant. It will be put up or shut up for Brannon and his followers. We’ll also get to see if he has deep pockets behind him.
DFO on December 01 at 12:03 p.m.
I’ve heard a coupla names that will be part of at least one defendant’s defense. They won’t come cheaply. I imagine the mayor and most City Council members will be represented by City Attorney Mike Gridley’s office. Ditto for Dan of the County and Deedie Beard being represented by county civil prosecutors. But I’d guess both of those public entities will seek reimbursement for time and materials. It’ll be interesting to see how much bond is set — and who pays the bond. Supporters of Brannon & Gookin didn’t toss in much money during their campaigns. It’d be hard to imagine that they’re willing to toss in thousands of dollars now in a long-shot bet to overturn the election — and then thousands of dollars more for a new campaign.
Dogwalkmusings on December 01 at 12:46 p.m.
DFO, Can you flip the PDF? It’s upside down - at least when I open it.
DFO on December 01 at 1:02 p.m.
@ Dogwalk Musings re: “DFO, Can you flip the PDF?”
I can’t. But there should be a button on your computer (under view or tools or some other heading at the top) that allows you to flip the lawsuit clockwise or counter-clockwise. Two flips and it should be right-side up.