In brief: White supremacist running for board

A man considered a white supremacist by a national civil rights group and another who is well-known in the Coeur d’Alene School District for his numerous information requests and phone calls have filed to run for the Coeur d’Alene School Board.

Stan Hess, a self-proclaimed European-American civil rights activist, and Hayden resident Brad St. John are running for seats in zones 3 and 2, respectively. Hess will face incumbent Christie Wood, a sergeant with the Coeur d’Alene police and a board member since 2000. St. John will go up against 18-year board veteran and current chairman Vern Newby.

The Southern Poverty Law Center considers Hess to be a white supremacist of national prominence. A former head of the California faction of ex-Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke’s European-American Unity and Rights Organization, Hess was employed by the school district as a substitute bus driver until late last year.

The election is May 15. Only people living in the zones can vote in the election. Zone boundaries are available on the school district’s Web site, www.cdaschools.org.

Post Falls School Board incumbents Michelle Lippert and Dave Paul are running unopposed.

– Meghann M. Cuniff

Ex-officer sues for wrongful firing

A Post Falls police officer who was fired in 2005 following an investigation into his conduct is suing the city for wrongful termination, negligence and breach of contract.

Erik Andersen alleges the city failed to properly train and supervise an intern officer he was assigned to work with. A complaint arising out of a traffic stop involving the intern and Andersen was the impetus for an investigation into Andersen’s conduct, according to court documents.

Andersen alleges former City Administrator Jim Hammond and Police Chief Cliff Hayes violated city personnel policies when they met to discuss the investigation into Andersen’s conduct prior to an appeal hearing.

He alleges Hammond, Hayes and Lt. Scot Haug “misrepresented the evidence” during the appeal process.

Andersen also questions the appropriateness of the intern officer’s father, also a police officer, taking a report on the citizen’s complaint against Andersen.

Since he was fired, Andersen has been unable to get another job in law enforcement, according to the suit.

Andersen is the defendant in a police brutality suit filed against the city by Bradley Platt, who claims Andersen beat him during a January 2005 arrest.

– Taryn Brodwater

Kroc Center’s tally now $4.4 million

A $300,000 pledge Friday by three local businessmen brought the Coeur d’Alene Kroc Community Center’s fundraising tally to $4.4 million.

Campaign coordinators have set a June 1 deadline to raise $6 million in order to break ground this year on the facility, which will be a public youth center next to Ramsey Park.

The donation is from Cliff Mort and Tom Johnson, owners of the Neighborhood Inc. development firm, and Jae Enos, owner of Victory Homes, a home builder. It represents their families and employees as well, Johnson said.

He said they hope to “challenge other businesses and the real estate business community to step up and help out” with the project.

– Scott Maben