Kootenai County Commission Dick Panabaker, Mike Stine

The race for Kootenai County Commission puts an experienced politician against a county resident fed up with pro-growth decisions.

Republican incumbent commissioner Dick Panabaker faces Democratic challenger Mike Stine for the second time.

Two years ago, the same two candidates jousted to a lopsided victory for Panabaker for the commission’s position 3. In that race, Stine ran as an independent without an organized campaign and received 28 percent of the vote.

Stine, a 43-year-old employee of Contract Communications of Spokane , said he’s not worried about the GOP’s dominance that has made Idaho the most Republican state in the union.

“Essentially (people) have been saying, `Kick (Panabaker) to the curb and start new.”’ Panabaker, 59, called Stine a “one-issue guy” two years ago, but now admits his challenger has campaigned strong and developed into a worthy opponent.

“People elect you to make tough decisions. There are a certain amount of people who aren’t happy,” Panabaker said. “It builds up over time.”

One of those tough decisions was the 2-1 vote to approve the Burlington Northern and Sante Fe Railway’s 500,000-gallon diesel refueling depot near Rathdrum.

That decision, which Panabaker supported, became a rallying cry in the May primary election.

Panabaker won by 8 percent of the vote over Republican challenger Rich Piazza.

“I personally didn’t think I would get past the primary … after the BNSF thing,” Panabaker said.“Nobody likes to get the crap kicked out of them. But it was what I thought was right.”

Stine said the community spoke - more than 5,000 signatures were collected opposing the depot - and the commission failed.

“The people were looking for the county commissioners to support them and they didn’t,” Stine said.

Panabaker said voters know what they are getting with him.

“My reason for being in the job is to very simply do the best job I can for Kootenai County,” he said. Stine is running to improve his home.

“This is where I put my roots down and I care about what is going on.

“There is only so much you can do from the outside,” Stine said. “Sometimes you have to put your boots on and jump in.”

This sidebar appeared with the story: POSITION 1

Post Falls Mayor Gus Johnson defeated three Republican challengers in the May primary and does not face any opponents in the Nov. 7 general election for Kootenai County Commission, position 1..

Johnson could face a write-in candidate, but no one has done so as of Friday. The deadline for write-in candidates to file is Oct. 24. Johnson defeated challengers Kevin Krieg, Merlin Berger and Bob Hunt to earn the chance to become commissioner.