Starting Over With Bright, New Faces

The Inland Northwest got rid of a black eye Monday when Bonner County swore in a slate of competent elected officials and Dale Van Stone replaced ultra-conservative Republican Bud Mueller as county commission chairman.

For two years, Mueller and his gang of self-appointed watchdogs have run amok in the courthouse, clamoring for drastic cuts in county government and slandering political opponents. The far-right activism, coupled with the presence of the Aryan Nations headquarters in Kootenai County, reinforced the region’s image as a haven for the militia, constitutionalists, kooks, separatists and worse.

The Southern Poverty Law Center hit the bull’s eye last spring when it summarized the fallout from Bonner County’s anti-government rule: “Unchecked development, rising costs and general confusion as county departments are abolished, buildings and roads go uninspected, county insurance rates double and lawsuits pile up in the courthouse.”

Unfortunately, Mueller’s term extends through the year 2000, so he will continue to provide a foothold for his stone-age allies. But he lost his bully pulpit this week when new Commissioner Brian Orr supported Van Stone for chairman. The two Democrats have about a year to restore courthouse civility and common sense before the zealots begin another push to take over the commissioners’ office.

Orr has said he wants to study county government for six months or so before recommending changes. That’s understandable. Certainly, it’s a wiser course than the one taken by Mueller and his erstwhile partner, Larry Allen, who fired the entire building department, the road supervisor and the solid-waste director after taking office. But there are things that should be addressed immediately.

First, Van Stone must establish he’s in control of the commissioners’ meetings - not the activists who have transformed them into an exercise in rude behavior and accusation. Next, Van Stone and Orr should work with the city of Sandpoint, other local governments and the business community to reduce duplication and improve service. Finally, the two Democrats should join other civic and elected leaders in denouncing county ideologues who continue to poison the public debate.

Anti-government activists have bullied Bonner County too long with their rhetoric, paranoia and recall petitions. Most are tired of such tactics. Now, the rabble rousers are back where they belong - on the outside looking in.