Commission Race A Study In Contrasts In Kootenai County, Election Between Conservative Businessman And A Liberal

Dick Compton and Rollin Putzier could be mascots for their respective ideologies: The conservative businessman and the liberal working stiff.

The two candidates for Kootenai County commissioner are almost exact opposites, with similarities that begin and end with their ages: Compton is 63, Putzier, 65.

They are vying for the seat now held by Compton.

A Republican, Compton was born and raised in Kootenai County, but spent 30 years as an IBM marketing executive, working as far away as Alaska and Asia before returning home a few years ago.

He has been heralded for his managerial experience, business acumen and leadership ability.

Putzier was raised in South Dakota, but landed in Post Falls 40 years ago. He earned a living variously in sawmills, construction, mining and horse racing before starting college in his 40s and earning a law degree.

He touts his experience defending the little guy, organizing workers and finding success against the odds.

“I would represent everyone equally,” Putzier said.

Although he’s never held office, Putzier has been a visible presence in fights over tax issues and development in Post Falls. He once picketed commissioners for reducing taxes at Silverwood Theme Park by 30 percent.

He also opposed efforts to entice businesses - like Boise-based computer giant Micron Inc. - with tax breaks. He unsuccessfully fought a greyhound racing track and spoke against a 360-acre annexation in Post Falls for a housing project.

The county’s growth in the past decade has led to overcrowded schools and horrible roads, he said.

If elected, he said, “I would do my best to slow up growth and insist we pay for it as we go.”

Putzier has faced personal battles. He suffers from Lou Gehrig’s disease and stopped working at race tracks in the mid-70s when he “got to the point where he couldn’t even pick up a pitchfork.”

Despite being unable to hold a pen, Putzier entered North Idaho College and eventually earned a law degree from Gonzaga University.

“I can really delegate authority,” he said.

Compton was elected to a two-year term in 1994 after unseating fellow Republican Kent Helmer in the May primary. He is credited with tightening the county’s fiscal belt, but his first six months were beset by controversy.

The all-Republican board of commissioners approved a controversial 230-acre gravel pit near Rathdrum and a plan to put machine shops above the aquifer near the Coeur d’Alene airport.

Commissioners also fought accusations of favoritism when they held an unadvertised meeting and let a Post Falls city councilman race motorcycles on his land without proper permits. They later rescinded that decision.

But Compton also helped put together a 46-person committee that designed development rules for the county’s lake shores. Even attorney Chuck Sheroke - a frequent critic of board decisions - said the new rules were good.

And Compton, who serves as board chairman and its leader, also has earned rave reviews for streamlining personnel and serving as a catalyst for cooperation among other governing agencies.

The county held the line on spending two years running - even while starting construction on a $3.7 million court house building. It reorganized several departments and found small ways to make government more efficient, once using landfill workers to tear down an old jail rather than hire outside contractors.

“I think the citizens of Kootenai County have gotten a pretty good return on their investment,” Compton said.

“We’ve got lots more work to do.”

, DataTimes MEMO: See individual profiles by name of candidate