DFO: A Whisper Campaign, Indeed

A short time ago, City Council challenger Dan Gookin mentioned on his campaign blog the possibility of a whisper campaign working against him in his attempt to unseat Councilwoman Deanna Goodlander. Indeed, there may be a whisper campaign. But Goodlander rather than Gookin appears to be the target. An e-mail circulated to an undisclosed list by Sharon Culbreth last week questions Goodlander’s claims to be a Republican, noting that the Kootenai County Democratic Women’s caucus had invited Councilman Mike Kennedy and Goodlander to speak on Thursday, Oct. 29. At the top, the e-mail makes some dubious claims re: Goodlander’s view of higher taxes and private property rights. You can read the release for yourself here . Goodlander told Huckleberries that the statements Culbreth attributed to her are absolutely false. In other words, Gookin supporters are willing the question the Republican pedigree of a councilwoman who has regularly attended Republican functions and activities. Yet, they’re dismissing claims by county Vice Chairman Duane Rasmussen that Gookin doesn’t want to be tagged with the Republican brand (repeated in Culbreth’s presence by Rasmussen at the Republican Women’s confab Saturday). All of which is strange in a local election which is suppose to be nonpartisan/ DFO .