Turn Light On Sex Offenders

It goes without saying that people should be notified when a child molester moves into the neighborhood. Yet, Erland Kautz had settled in Spirit Lake before the community learned about him. Kautz? He’s a convicted molester who has admitted fondling or performing oral sex on 26 girls, ages 2 to 17. After Kautz was outed in Spirit Lake, neighbor Claudia Satefiel asked the $64,000 question that our Legislature should answer: “Shouldn’t they notify me? I have children. The police should protect me by letting me know.” Last session, legislators refused to look at a bill, proposed by Sen. Clyde Boatright, R-Rathdrum, that mandated notification. It was “a little harsh,” sniffed the pols. But so is finding out that “nice” Mr. So-and-So next door played doctor with your kids. And he’d done the same thing to other kids before. Idaho needs an enlightened notification law like Washington’s. The tougher the better.

Craig double-talks finance reform

Hmmm. Seems U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, wants campaign finance reform, but he just can’t find a bill to his liking. On Tuesday, Loquacious Larry, Idaho’s Dirk Kempthorne and 43 other Republicans blocked a vote on finance reform. Afterward, Craig harrumphed: “We need campaign finance reform, but this bill takes the wrong approach.” Apparently, the bill, cosponsored by possible Republican veep candidate John McCain of Arkansas had constitutional problems. (Yeah, it might have stopped Larry from spending all of his $1.4 million re-election warchest to beat Walt Whatzhizname). You’ll never get finance reform until the issue is taken out of the hands of the politicians.

Green Rathdrum Prairie beats strip malls

Everyone knows the Rathdrum Prairie eventually will become one big subdivision. But there’s no need to hurry the process, which is exactly what a proposed amendment to the Kootenai County comp plan would do. The hounds of progress (read developers, real estate agents and contractors) are salivating over a proposed change that would permit commercial development for five miles along each side of state Highway 41. Of course, businesses will beget houses, which will increase pressure on the beleaguered grass-seed industry to move elsewhere. When the farmers go, so will the pleasing green fields that cover the prairie, filtering contaminants and cooling the surrounding area. County officials must resist the temptation on this one to be rubber stamps for their industry buddies. , 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.