Two Commissioner Candidates Differ Little Gop Primary Opponents In Boundary County Both Are Adamant About Keeping Forests Open For Public Use

The economy in Boundary County is close to stagnant. Logging jobs have dwindled, and the U.S. Forest Service is pinching off access to federal lands.

Those problems must be tackled if the community is to thrive, two county commissioner candidates say.

Merle Dinning, a commissioner for 10 years, is being challenged by fellow Republican Ron Navarro. The May 26 primary will be a winner-take-all race; there is no Democrat vying for the seat in the November general election.

The candidates differ little in their views on how to steer the county.

Both are adamant about keeping forests and other federal lands open for public use. Many areas in the county are gated or off-limits to protect endangered grizzly bears and woodland caribou.

Navarro says he doesn’t want the county turned into a national park for endangered species. He also wants to stop efforts to tranquilize caribou in Canada and move them into Boundary County.

“If the caribou want to migrate, they can come down here on their own,” he said.

One theory on why the caribou have left, he says, is a lack of logging. Caribou thrive on lichen, which grows on trees and the forest floor. Uncut old-growth forests don’t produce as much lichen, he claims.

Efforts are under way to save the white sturgeon in the Kootenai River. Some groups also want protection for an eel-type fish called burbot. But with every endangered species come more federal regulations and government agencies handing down mandates to county residents, Dinning says.

His philosophy is simple: “Everybody should have the right to access public lands.”

Dinning wants to carry on work he and fellow commissioners have started to keep Forest Service roads open. The county has challenged a plan to close the historic Boundary Creek Road.

Dinning also wants Forest Service officials to start properly maintaining mountain trails. Some trails are being neglected to keep hikers out of grizzly bear country, he said.

Dinning touts his experience and accomplishments in office.

The county will adopt a comprehensive land-use plan next month, a project that has been promised for years. The new plan protects private property rights and will help in crafting planning and zoning regulations, he says.

Commissioners also are working to open an industrial park and attract more businesses to the area.

“I am a native and have been openminded. I understand the concerns of the people here about access to forests, the economy and private property rights,” Dinning said.

The commissioners have talked about many projects, but it’s time to get them off the ground, Navarro says. “Things are getting started but not finished.”

Navarro says his main concern is bringing jobs to the county. Most high school graduates face trying to live off the minimum wage. “You either wait tables or cut trees. There’s got to be more to life than that. We need some diversification,” Navarro said.

The county does a poor job of selling itself, he says. Commissioners need to offer incentives to coax businesses to the area and need to flaunt what the county can provide, such as a labor force, inexpensive land and tax benefits.

“When this area is constantly fighting over schools, funding and roads,” Navarro said, it makes little difference to bring in an organization that can provide good-paying jobs.

Winner-take-all The winner of the May 26 GOP primary will become a Boundary County commissioner. There is no Democrat vying for the seat.