Put A Muzzle On This Guy

I appreciate Fernan Mayor Mary Ann Tierney’s response to the tempest in a teapot caused by rogue Councilman Mike Verbillis. She isn’t going to help him get revenge on animal control officers who picked up his dog a month ago. Said Tierney: “Absolutely not, absolutely not, absolutely not.” Among other rash comments, Verbillis had threatened to sic the City Council on the dogcatchers’ contract for throwing Fido in the slammer. When he went to retrieve the mutt at the pet shelter, Verbillis cussed out the two-legged inhabitants, called a Kootenai County sheriff’s deputy a Nazi and threatened to urinate on an animal-control officer’s rig. All this happened at a time Verbillis is facing trial in February on charges he deliberately smacked a pedestrian with his car in a 1995 argument over a parking space. As an attorney, Verbillis knows how far he can go without getting jailed, too. In fact, he’s president of the state’s trial lawyers association. Here’s hoping the trial lawyers don’t believe in playing follow the leader.

Mum shouldn’t be the word in Bonner County

Here we go again. Four years ago, Republicans Gene Brown and Wayne Newcomb rode an anti-government wave into the Bonner County commissioners office. They were going to cut government. But before long, the courthouse was in a turmoil. County government was a laughingstock. In the last two years, voters dumped Brown and Newcomb, and things settled down. Now, GOP Commissioners-elect Bud Mueller and Larry Allen have stirred up county employees again by refusing to disclose plans for the road, planning and building departments. During the campaign, they talked about dismantling those departments. As county employees mull an uncertain future this yuletide, they have to wonder if county government is about to return to the Dark Ages. So do I.

Tater Tots

Sweet Potatoes go to the “Family Doctor,” E.R.W. Fox, who retired Friday after serving Coeur d’Alene for almost 60 years. A spinal problem forced him to take down his shingle. His gentle bedside manner has brightened all our lives. … Another Sign of the Times: Republican Larry Craig and Democrat Walt Minnick spent a combined $4.8 million on their U.S. Senate campaigns. Outrageous. … And Another Sign: U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth spent more than $1 million to win re-election - and pay debts left over from her 1994 campaign. Do you suppose “Give-‘em-Helen” finally can balance her campaign checkbook and get on with representing us?

, 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.