Leave It To Democrats To Find Fault With Assessor Replacement

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. I generally don’t praise public officials (shaddup!). But the selection of Democrat Ray Lee as new county assessor leaves me no alternative. The Kootenai County commissioners’ choice was downright Solomonic. As you recall, local Democrats have foamed since Oct. 31 when Assessor Tom Moore switched parties on his death bed - from Democrat to Republican. Moore was trying to set the stage for Deputy Assessor Mike McDowell, a Republican, to replace him. Under Idaho law, an officeholder’s party helps fill mid-term vacancies by forwarding commissioners a list of three candidates from which to choose. Curiously, Lee, a retired chief commercial appraiser, made the Republican list. The D’s dissed him because he wasn’t a dues-paying member. In making their bold choice, the Republican commissioners picked a qualified candidate, rejected partisanship and boxed Democrats into a corner. Only blind partisans could kick at their choice. Alas, the D’s kicked. In fact, they’re planning to sue. Give ‘em two scoops of Hot Potatoes.

I told you so, I told you so

Didn’t I tell you last spring to re-elect Trustee Jane Curtis to the Coeur d’Alene School Board? But did you listen? No-o-o-o. Now, the rubber stamp that replaced her has voted with a 3-1 majority to move ahead with plans to build an administration building without voter approval. All the district needs to get away with this end around is the approval of a single 1st District Court judge. Democracy be damned.

Tater Tots

Forget the freemen, Militia of Montana and the Unabomber. There is intelligent life in Montana. Proof? Gov. Marc Racicot thinks his state’s “(un)safe and (im)prudent” speed limit needs work. Duh! Goodbye, Montanabahn. Good riddance. …. So, you worried that college radicals were going to seize this country when the legal voting age was lowered to 18? Hahahaha. Only 15 percent of Generation X votes. Maybe we should call rename it Generation Zzzzzz instead. …. The city should listen to Art Manley’s plea to go slow in removing trees from storm-damaged Tubbs Hill. Warns Art: “We need someone from the city to oversee and make sure we don’t have too big a job and take too many trees.” Job One should be preservation of the hill - not making a few bucks for the city treasury. …. If you’re down or stressed this yuletide, you should see “It’s A Wonderful Life” again (Dec. 20, NBC). If that old favorite doesn’t perk you up, maybe your life isn’t that great, after all. Cheers.

, DataTimes MEMO: D.F. Oliveria’s “Hot Potatoes” runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125, or by sending e-mail to daveo@spokesman.com.