Voters vent frustrations on incumbents

Pure political arrogance is how many people across Kootenai County explain Tuesday’s firing of two county commissioners.

From business advocates to residents in the most remote areas, voters resoundingly confirmed that commissioners aren’t listening to constituents’ needs and that it’s time for new faces.

The message was evident from the first posting of election results that showed Commission Chairman Gus Johnson and Commissioner Katie Brodie behind by large margins. The trend continued all night, with the Republican incumbents never making gains.

In the end, retired county employee Rich Piazza snatched 62 percent of the vote, easily booting Brodie from office. Post Falls City Councilman Todd Tondee, a pizza shop owner, took 59 percent of the vote, leaving Johnson jobless. Tondee now faces Independent Tom Macy in the November election.

“What stuck out with me the most was they thought they were doing a great job, yet everyone was telling them they weren’t,” said Tondee, who marked his post-election victory by getting a root canal. “They weren’t listening.”

Johnson didn’t return phone calls Wednesday. He also didn’t return calls on election night or appear at a Hayden restaurant to watch the results with Brodie as he’d planned. He reportedly decided to go home instead. Tondee added that he hadn’t heard from him, either.

Johnson, who was seeking a third term, ran his election based on his longtime slogan “Trust Gus” and touted his experience both as a commissioner and former Post Falls mayor.

But experience wasn’t what voters sought.

“I think the people realized that we do not have the caliber of commissioners we deserve,” said Larry Spencer, who spent his own cash to back Piazza and Tondee.

Another issue that gnawed at voters was that the commission gave itself a 23 percent pay increase, a fact that Piazza reiterated every chance he got.

“I think people are just tired of what’s going on,” Piazza said.

Rural residents are also taking some credit for ousting the incumbents.

Neighborhood groups from Athol to Arrow Point banded together to knock on doors, make phone calls and even buy advertisements against Johnson and Brodie.

Bat Masterson of the Cedar Mountain Association said rural residents realized they have power if they work together and that they can perhaps stop dense developments from chewing up the landscape and lifestyle that he believes is attracting so many people to Kootenai County.

“As we watched the returns last night, I believe in my heart we made a difference,” Masterson said. “We got the rural to vote. I like to believe we are going to change the attitude of the citizenry.”

Carol Sebastian of Kootenai Environmental Alliance helped these rural groups organize and said property taxes also worked into the mix, motivating people to finally speak out. As rural areas are transformed into exclusive golf course communities such as Black Rock and Gozzer Ranch, neighbors’ property values soar. She said people want politicians to do something about the tax burden.

Sebastian added that the new commissioners shouldn’t become too confident because voters now have high expectations.

“They need to stay engaged with the general populace, or I don’t think they will be in office after the next election,” she said.

Kelly Richards, executive director of Concerned Businesses of North Idaho, agreed.

“People are looking for good representation and want to feel like they’ve been heard,” said Richards, whose group endorsed Brodie and Tondee. “That would be my advice moving forward for all the commission.”

The big question is how Brodie and Johnson will conduct themselves in the seven months before they leave office.

Masterson said the first test is today, when the county Planning Commission continues its public hearing on a request to change the growth plan to allow a large housing development near Silverwood Theme Park.

Brodie and Johnson, along with Commissioner Rick Currie, will have a final say on the plan.

Masterson questions whether the neighborhood group’s involvement in the campaigns will spark a backlash by Johnson and Brodie. The fear is that they will “rubber stamp” any large development that comes before them, he said.

Brodie called it a “silly notion” that didn’t deserve comment.

“I’m going to continue to do the job I was elected to do and give it 100 percent and hold my head up high,” she said.

Masterson said the neighborhood groups aren’t backing down either way. During tonight’s meeting, the groups will wear green ribbons in recognition of intelligent growth, a reminder of the voters’ will, Masterson said.

Currie said it was too soon for him to analyze the election.

“I’m not sure if I have a take on it yet,” he said. “A lot of people out there are talking, but that doesn’t mean what they are saying is right.”