Prosecutor, Commissioner Contests Promise New Faces Benson Boasts Zero Tolerance; Lopez Has Worked As Prosecutor

Boundary County is guaranteed to soon have a new prosecuting attorney and commissioner.

But exactly who they will be is up to voters on Nov. 7.

Republican Brett Benson defeated incumbent Denise Woodbury in the primary election for prosecuting attorney.

Benson, 32, has a private law practice. He has five years’ experience in law, beginning with a Las Vegas firm. In 1997, he moved to Bonners Ferry with his wife and daughter.

This is Benson’s first time seeking public office. “If you do a good job, it can affect a lot of people,” he said.

He’s pledging to apply zero tolerance to alcohol- and drug-related crimes, domestic violence, child abuse and crimes against people and property.

But Benson is relatively inexperienced when it comes to criminal cases and has no prosecution experience.

Yet, those things can be learned, he said: “I bring a unique vigor and enthusiasm to the job.”

Nor is Benson concerned with a potential conflict of interest over the fact that he’s defending Melissa Keane, who’s being sued by the parents of Ty Hartman.

Keane escaped criminal prosecution two years ago in the disappearance of Hartman. In return for help finding Hartman, authorities agreed not to charge Keane or two of her friends with drug crimes or with improperly disposing of Hartman’s body.

Only a small amount of charred remains were recovered, and the Hartmans are pursuing a civil action against Keane and two young men involved in the incident. The criminal case is not closed, according to Woodbury and Sheriff Greg Sprungl.

Benson said he’ll follow whatever procedures are appropriate in the event he’s faced with a conflict of interest in the case.

Running against Benson on the Democrat ticket is Terry Lopez, a private attorney and, more recently, the prosecuting attorney for the town of Clark Fork.

Lopez, 58, has 22 years’ experience practicing law. Lopez and her husband moved to Boundary County 30 years ago. They farmed and taught school, then later moved to Spokane to attend Gonzaga Law School.

They had two children and moved to Caldwell, Idaho, where they ran their own law practice. The couple moved back to Boundary County in 1994.

Lopez served on the Governor’s Commission for Children and Youth and Vocational Education, and has worked as a Public Utilities Commission hearing officer. She unsuccessfully ran for county assessor two years ago.

Now she has an interest in prosecuting criminals.

“I’d would like to see it run real efficiently and economically,” Lopez said of the prosecutor’s office. “I don’t want the office to look like a revolving door” for cases.

Running for county commissioner are Robert Del Grosso, an independent candidate, and Dan Dinning, a Republican.

Dinning, 44, is a Bonners Ferry native who helped with the family real estate business for years until turning to timber. He operates a small, portable sawmill.

Dinning’s public involvement up until now has been mostly in youth programs, such as coaching high school baseball.

“It’s time to give something back,” Dinning said.

Dinning wants to see the landfill’s life extended as long as possible and help attract business to Boundary County.

“Before I was involved in anything that would raise taxes or cause a burden, I’d look at it from a standpoint of who is this going to really serve,” he said.

Del Grosso, 57, is a small-businessman and a railroad buff. He’s lived in Boundary County fo 18 years, is a veteran and operates a private publishing business.

He ran for county commissioner in the ‘80s and lost to Clyde Stone.

“I decided to run primarily because I wanted open government and access to the government, regardless of political background,” he said.

Del Grosso is a private-property rights advocate, and would like to see a residential street address system implemented for the county to assist emergency services.

Along with Dinning, Del Grosso supports the county’s claim to Boundary Creek Road.

“I’m absolutely opposed to the (federal) roadless initiative,” he said. “It’s a disguise for denying access into the forest.”