Bonner Co Eyes Anti-Tobacco Plan

If you’re looking to be hired by Bonner County in 2014, you may want to consider kicking tobacco as a New Year’s resolution. The county is slated to reconsider a proposal to avoid hiring new employees who smoke cigarettes or chew tobacco, according to Commissioner Mike Nielsen. Nielsen plans on revisiting the issue during a department head meeting on Monday, Jan. 6, 2014. “It will be discussed, debated and cussed,” said Nielsen. Nielsen first tried to implement the policy in 2011, but it was not supported by former Commissioner Cornel Rasor, who has a strong libertarian bent, or Commissioner Lewie Rich, a frequent opponent of Nielsen initiatives/ Keith Kinnaird , Bee. More here.

Question: Should a county adopt a policy against hiring new employees who either smoke or chew tobacco?