A debate is raging within the thin ranks of the Kootenai County Democratic Party.

Democratic partisans wonder if it’s ethical to vote in Republican primaries where the winner automatically will become an office holder next year because no Democrat, Independent or third-party candidate is running. Only Republicans seek the two seats on the county commission and the three legislative seats in District 3.

In an e-mail, Democrat Kristy Reed Johnson of Post Falls expressed her frustration: “What’s a Democrat to do? Some Democrats would rather be struck by lightening than vote for any Republican.” She encourages fellow Democrats outside of District 4 (Coeur d’Alene), which has a Democratic primary, “to exercise their right to select their elected officials.” However, she also urges them to vote only in winner-take-all races and to leave the Republican ballot blank where Democrats have fielded candidates.

We’re not constrained by partisan politics as Johnson is. We could make a good argument for Democrats in the Coeur d’Alene area also to cross over to the Republican side to decide who will represent them in the county courthouse. In day-to-day operations, the commissioners’ office has more of an impact on the lives of Kootenai County residents than any single legislator. Johnson, however, has done Kootenai County voters a service by bringing this matter to light. Voters on both sides of the political divide should be aware that their only chance to vote in the races for commissioner and District 3 legislators will be Tuesday.

Since these and other Kootenai County primary races are so important, we are repeating our list of endorsements:

• Kootenai County Commissioner: Incumbents Dick Panabaker and Rick Currie have done a solid job and deserve another term.

• Senate District 3: Challenger Mike Jorgenson, a Hayden Lake councilman, is energetic, knowledgeable and not afraid to take a stand in a three-way race that features and an incumbent and a former state senator with spotty voting records.

• House District 3: Jim Clark and Wayne Meyer are veteran incumbents who have accumulated clout and baggage – and are light years ahead of their challengers in experience.

• House District 4: Republican Marge Chadderdon and Democrat Mike Gridley are the strongest candidates to meet in November’s general election. If elected, Gridley will make the impact in Boise that incumbent Bonnie Douglas has not.

• House District 5: Bob Nonini and Frank Henderson are pro-business candidates in the mold of retiring state Rep. Hilde Kellogg, R-Post Falls.