Watchdog Committee Official Stepping Down

Pat Raffee, the force behind the government-dogging Concerned Businesses of North Idaho, is resigning her post as executive director.

Raffee cites burnout and the call to return to consulting work as her reasons for leaving. For example, she spent much of last summer and fall analyzing budgets and attending hearings for dozens of area property-taxing districts.

It’s “the night meetings, the sheer hours … and I moved here for a slower pace of life,” Raffee said.

Raffee doesn’t have a specific job picked out. She would like to volunteer on some political campaigns and get involved in community things, she said.

“I’m hoping my board and members may have some ideas - and offer me a job,” Raffee said.

Concerned Businesses has 60 members who employ 7,000 people in North Idaho. The organization is forming a search committee to find a replacement for Raffee, said Gary Schneidmiller, president of Concerned Businesses.

Raffee’s departure is amicable, he said.

“She is a very talented lady and has done a good job,” Schneidmiller said. “It was time - she had other things she wanted to do.” , DataTimes