Republicans Square Off For Primary Bonner County Commission Candidates Voice Concerns About Spending, Taxes, Road Repairs

Each Republican candidate in the District 3 Bonner County Commissioner’s race touts a certain expertise for the job.

Bill Stevens sells himself as a good listener; “I’m a people person…I like solving problems.”

Tom Clark claims to be a lay expert in the workings of local government; “I’m intimate with the budget process down there. I understand why we’re in the morass we’re in.”

Jerry Clemons points to his extensive business background, particularly his real estate management business in Chicago; “When I looked at what I did, I can’t imagine a better job in the world as a prerequisite for being commissioner.”

In the primary election, May 23, voters will choose who they think is most qualified to run against incumbent Democrat Dale Van Stone in the general election.

Their perception of the biggest problems facing the county, and who can best address them, could determine who the winner is.

The three Republican candidates have different thoughts on what ails Bonner County government today.

Clark sees a government that’s spending money out of control, without regard for local economic conditions.

It aggravates him that the current majority of commissioners put away money each year for future construction of a new courthouse, instead of putting the issue to a vote.

He’s also opposed to the commissioners moving money from one fund and creating another for economic development.

“County government is to be the shepherd of county funds,” Clark says. “The government exists for the sake of the taxpayer, and I think we’ve lost sight of that.”

Clark says the county budget has climbed from $3 million in 1988 to $26 million this year, but the roads haven’t improved at the same rate. County Clerk Marie Scott doesn’t have budget figures for 1988, but in 1990, the total budget was about $9 million. Now, it’s nearly $26 million.

Of that, $4 million was property tax revenue in 1990, and nearly $11 million is property tax revenue now.

Clark is one of many taxpayers who believe the county is over-taxing its citizens and sitting on too much money. In the last election, Clark’s supporters called the build-up of reserve funds and interest a “slush fund.”

This year, Clark refers to that excess and the commissioners’ adjustments in the budget as the kind of “shenanigans” he wants to stop.

Clemons says he wants a streamlined government, but he doesn’t buy the recurring allegations that the county is sitting on a multimillion-dollar “slush fund.”

When questions arise at candidates forums about the so-called slush fund, Clemons launches into an explanation of county fiscal management and functions of the treasurer’s office.

“It would be rather foolish not to have reserves, especially in the road department and the sheriff’s department,” he says. “I don’t see any secret funds.”

Clemons does agree that the county should put the capital expense of a new courthouse to a public vote, instead of squirreling away money from year to year.

“I don’t want the government to get bigger,” he says. “I’d rather see it work better.”

But when it comes to the issues that made him run, Clemons talks about the county’s lack of good-paying jobs, its racist image and poor roads.

He says he’s also concerned about lack of enforcement of zoning violations, that make the county the “laughingstock” of North Idaho.

“Nobody has to get a permit if they don’t want to,” he said at a recent forum. “We have no control. It’s running wild.”

Stevens considers the divisiveness of county leadership as government’s biggest liability.

“Roads are not my issue,” he makes it clear.

He points to the decision of a previous commission to eliminate the county’s building department as an example of poor leadership. Clemons agrees, while Clark supports that action.

While Stevens doesn’t want the return of the building department, he says the county could have saved money in insurance costs and legal costs if commissioners had approached that issue more carefully.

“My main goal if I get elected is to make sure all departments work well together,” he said. “No more back-biting.”

Stevens is the guy cooking hot dogs for the VFW’s bingo night. As chairman of the East Bonner County Library District, he’s particularly proud of the success of the new Sandpoint library.

He was motivated to run for the library district board to help bring a reasonable bond issue before the public. He opposed the previous bond issue as too costly.

Now, he wants to bring that fiscal responsibility to county government, he says.

“We don’t need frills for government,” he says. As for slush funds, “I don’t know,” he says. “But I will guarantee you (if he’s elected) we’ll have a budget you can read.”