I hate to say that I agree with Kootenai County commissioner candidate Larry Spencer on anything involving county politics. But he's right in opposing a measure on the November ballot this year -- a proposed change in county government structure. In a response to two surveys calling for a vote on structure change to streamline county government, the current commissioners will ask voters to decide if they want a county government in which the commissioners, sheriff and prosecutor are elected -- and the clerk, treasurer, assessor and coroner appointed. At the debate Thursday night, Spencer said he wanted things to remain the same because the current forms provides checks and balances. I agree. Given the closed primary forced on us by Idaho Republicans, two commissioner candidates with extreme agenda could win in the same year and take complete control over county government if four of the offices were appointive. Spencer mentioned that the city of Coeur d'Alene wouldn't be fighting the McEuen Field battle if Dan Gookin and Steve Adams formed two-thirds of its council as a result of the last election. I'm glad that it takes two election cycles in the city to totally change course because Gookin and Adams would have run the city into the ground if they were in control. Back to the county, incumbent Dan Green (pictured) said at the forum that he favored changing the government structure. But could work with the current system if voters decide against change, as he has for last two years. Rathdrum Mayor Vic Holmes, the third candidate said simply of the proposed change: "I don't like it."

Question: Will you vote to change Kootenai County government?