Boundary County Offices Sheriff, Prosecutor, County Commissioner

The hottest race in Boundary County is between incumbent Sheriff Greg Sprungl and challenger George Voyles.

Sprungl’s re-election is haunted by the loss of three deputies in the last few months, which has bolstered Voyle’s complaints about the department lacking leadership.

Morale in the department is at a low point, and Voyles’ supporters believe he can restore it.

Voyles and officers who have left complain that deputies have too few opportunities for training. Sprungl counters with specific examples of training he’s provided deputies.

Sprungle avoids grants with strings attached, particularly those that obligate the county to take on greater costs as a program develops.

Voyles would like to see the department take advantage of more federal and state grants to address training, staffing and equipment shortfalls.

Voyles has 18 years in law enforcement, beginning in Shoshone County. He believes the county needs to tackle drug trafficking, and all other crimes, more aggressively.

He’d also like to see the Sheriff’s department make greater efforts to communicate with the public.

Sprungl believes the morale problem stems from election season, and the fact that officers are answering to opposing candidates within the department.

The sheriff is running on a record of increased salaries, balanced budgets and a good relationship with the commissioner’s office. As for community relations, Sprungl points out that he is accessible: his home phone number is in the book.

Sprungl has served as sheriff since being appointed six years ago. He won re-election in 1996.

Prosecuting attorney

In the race for prosecuting attorney, a young attorney and a more seasoned lawyer are squaring off, but neither have much, if any, experience prosecuting crimes.

Brett Benson defeated incumbent Denise Woodbury in the Republican primary, and will face Terry Lopez in the general election.

Benson, 32, moved to Bonners Ferry in 1997 and opened a law practice, where he handles mostly civil matters. Lopez, 58, operates a law practice out of her home and recently took on the part-time prosecutor’s job for the city of Clark Fork.

Lopez, a Democrat, and her husband ran a law practice together for many years before moving back to Boundary County in 1994.

Benson names his priority as fighting crime, while Lopez puts greater emphasis on fighting crime efficiently through a well-run prosecutor’s office.

“I don’t want it to look like a revolving door,” she said.

County commissioner

Running for County Commissioner are Robert Del Grosso and Dan Dinning. Del Grosso, 57, a book publisher and train buff, is running as an independent. Dinning, 44, is a Republican and self-employed as a small sawmill operator.

Dinning said he’s running in order to give something back to a community where he’s lived all his life. Dinning isn’t driven by any particular issue, but said he’ll scrutinize any tax increases.

Del Grosso has lived in Boundary County 18 years. His top issue in running is to help create an open government and access for all citizens.

Both candidates back the current commission’s efforts to assume control of Boundary Creek Road from the U.S. Forest Service.