Primary Winner Faces Demo Foe He Just Beat Waters, Mounting Write-In Campaign Against Vergobbi, Cites ‘Tight’ Defeat

Gary Waters isn’t one to give up easily.

At odds with his fellow commissioners and the local Democratic Party, Waters is trying to win a write-in campaign against Shoshone County Commission candidate Jim Vergobbi.

Waters, the incumbent, didn’t make the ballot because Vergobbi, a fellow Democrat, won by 29 votes in the primary election.

No Republicans are running.

“It was such a tight race and such a concentrated effort to beat me, (my supporters) felt with a little extra work we could overcome,” Waters said.

History is in Vergobbi’s favor, however.

The past two general elections have had write-in campaigns in the Shoshone County sheriff and assessor races, but without success. Still, in both instances, the write-in candidates attracted almost 2,000 votes.

“It’s another campaign all over again,” said Vergobbi, who won the endorsement and a $250 contribution from Shoshone County Democrats.

Both men have plenty of name recognition in Shoshone County. Waters has operated a garbage business under his name for 26 years, and is completing a two-year term on the commission.

Vergobbi’s family has been around Shoshone County for generations, and Vergobbi served on the county commission for six years. He lost in a bid for re-election in 1990.

Commissioner Sherry Krulitz also was defeated that year. She later regained her office and is running unopposed for re-election this year.

“I think it was a case of ‘Let’s get the rascals out,”’ Vergobbi said of the 1990 election. “I can’t sincerely believe in my heart that I lost that election because of bad performance. I was doing a pretty good job.”

Vergobbi said he can do a better job than Waters, particularly at getting along with his fellow commissioners.

“I thought there was a possible lack of harmony,” Vergobbi said. “The commission wasn’t acting as a unit… It’s not a one-person commission.”

Waters admits discord exists among the commissioners. He complains that Krulitz and Commissioner Jack King don’t always consult his opinion, and conduct “backdoor” meetings.

If he wins re-election, Waters said, “I would hope that they would realize that the voters have spoken their piece and they would accept me as a commissioner rather than a garbage man.”

Waters describes the big difference between him and Vergobbi this way: “He’s much more of a politician than I am. I’m a common, everyday working man. He’s got the silver tongue and I’ve got the brass.”

Waters also portrays himself as the candidate who can represent the Osburn and Wallace areas, because Vergobbi lives in Kellogg.

Vergobbi says that is not the case.

“I don’t like to hear the word bias or misrepresentation,” Vergobbi said. “I will represent Shoshone County, not Kellogg or any individual city.” , DataTimes MEMO: These 2 sidebars appeared with the story: 1. JIM VERGOBBI Democrat … 66 … Silver Valley native … served in U.S. Army Signal Corps in Germany … retired after 22 years in wood mill industry … seven years on Kellogg City Council … served two years as Kellogg mayor until 1985 … county commissioner from 1985-1990 … member of the Knights of Columbus and advisory board of the Mountain Valley Care and Rehabilitation Center … married with three children and three grandchildren. Finances: 30-day post-primary report shows Vergobbi raised $1,630.66 and spent $1,355. Issues: Return harmony to the county commission … press for federal and state funds for more flood repair … minimize damage if One Percent Initiative passes … reduce number of unfunded mandates.

2. GARY WATERS Democrat … 55 … raised in Silver Valley and Missouri … attended classes at School of the Ozarks in Branson, Mo., and North Idaho College … has owned Waters Garbage since 1970 … former Wallace firefighter, zinc plant worker and miner … active in The Shriners, Lions Club, Elks Club and local Chamber of Commerce … married with two grown sons. Finances: 30-day post-primary report shows $1,210 in contributions, spent $987.35. Issues: Repair Coeur d’Alene River road to Prichard … cut unnecessary spending … buy supplies locally … represent Wallace/ Osburn area … stop back-room decision-making.