Write-in candidate’s determination pays off

In an election with low turnout, Jon Guinn, a write-in candidate for fire commissioner in the Timberlake Fire District, brought down the longtime incumbent, Bat Masterson, in a 190-141 vote.

Guinn, a retired U.S. Air Force officer and longtime volunteer fireman and emergency medical technician, originally tried to get his name on the Nov. 6 ballot, but could not muster five valid signatures among the 10 voters who signed the nomination petition he turned in at the Kootenai County Elections Department. Not to be deterred, he launched a write-in campaign, complete with yard signs and Web site.

Asked to what he attributed his victory, Guinn said “certainly a low turnout helped a lot,” but he also referred to what he called the fire district’s “closed club” atmosphere, with many of the meetings going to executive session and out of public view.

Acknowledging that certain issues, such as personnel, have to be discussed in private, Guinn claimed that open meetings were rare, with two commissioners ruling the roost and the others followers. Noting that one chief and five full-time firefighters have been fired in the past two years, Guinn said that he wanted fair hiring and firing practices, transparent open meetings, and an end to the “good ‘ol boys” closed atmosphere.

Attempts to contact Masterson were unsuccessful.

Noting the low 4 percent voter turnout overall, fire district board president Sam Scheu said, “We could have done a better job publicizing the election.”

He speculated the higher 23 percent voter turnout in parts of Bonner County could be attributed to concentrated campaigning by Guinn.

“Perhaps we need to find ways to communicate with these folks better,” he said.

The Timberlake Fire District was originally formed in 2000 with the merging of the Athol and Bayview fire departments. Now, only manned at the Athol location, the district has five fire stations, all dormant, except for the Little Blacktail station, built mostly from local funds.

Kootenai County Elections Manager Deedie Beard said Guinn’s write-in victory is a rare feat.

“I don’t recall in my 30 years in this department, ever seeing a write-in candidate win, although I could have forgotten,” she said.

Guinn, formerly of Walla Walla, graduated from Washington State University with a degree in police science. He spent more than 20 years in the Air Force, specializing in security and investigations, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He claims certification as an EMT, as well as having taken courses in fire investigation. Currently, he is on inactive status as a volunteer firefighter with the district.