Panabaker Has The Experience Edge

Dick Panabaker, chairman of the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners, has been in the eye of the hurricane throughout his second term.

Earlier this year, the Hayden Republican cast one of the county’s toughest votes ever, a tie-breaking one that permitted Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad to build a refueling depot near Hauser. This newspaper supported that decision because the railroad and its depot are important to the region’s economy. But many Kootenai County residents didn’t. He was lucky to survive his three-way Republican primary election last spring.

Panabaker has himself to blame for some of the turmoil that has surrounded him during the last two years. In June, he was charged with drunken driving. To his credit, he pleaded guilty and willingly performed community service.

During his six years in office Panabaker has picked up enough baggage for some voters to turn against him. But he’s also been a hard-working commissioner who’s able to make tough decisions, from the refueling depot to the decision to ask voters to raise the county’s sales tax to pay for jail expansion. That’s why The Idaho Spokesman-Review is endorsing Panabaker’s re-election bid.

Post Falls Mayor Gus Johnson, a Republican, is running unopposed for a second commissioner seat.

For the second time in two years, Panabaker is facing Mike Stine in the general election. Last time, Stine pulled 28 percent of the vote, running a loosely organized campaign as an independent. This time, Stine is running as a Democrat. He’s also a better qualified candidate. Two years ago, he impressed us as little more than a candidate who was upset because county commissioners rezoned land near his home. Now, he appears to have a good grasp of issues and may benefit from his stand against the refueling depot.

Still, Stine can’t touch Panabaker’s background for public service. Panabaker has served two terms as mayor of Hayden and two terms as county commissioner. In his county post, he has been part of a progressive board that streamlined county government, cut waste, built an annex and remodeled the courthouse. Panabaker and his board attracted the anger of a small, vocal minority when he embraced the sales tax as the best way to expand the jail.

That’s leadership. Panabaker has earned another term.