Ward Defends RRepub Intrusion

The Press contends that the KCRR is somehow “polluting” the purity of local elections by supporting candidates with whom we share a political philosophy.  To imply that partisanship in local elections came about just because of our group is silly. People involved in partisan politics were the driving force in local elections decades before we were ever founded in July 2009.  First of all, “non-partisan elections” is a complete misnomer. The state of Idaho does not list political party affiliation on the ballot for municipal and local taxing district elections but that does not mean that the candidates and their supporters are not active members of a political party.  There are no non-partisan elections, just non-partisan ballot listings. Everyone “in the know” in our community is aware of the political affiliation of the candidates.  It is the height of elitism to think this knowledge should not be shared with the average voter.  To deny the voters the right to know the beliefs of candidates, their general philosophy, and with whom they politically associate, is just another way to pull the wool over voters’ eyes/ Jeff Ward , Kootenai County Reagan Republicans president. More here.

Question: As you know, I thoroughly disagree with Jeff re: the issue of partisans like his group injecting their ideology into a nonpartisan local election. I also disagree that everyone “in the know” is aware of the political affiliation of council members. Can someone tell me the political affiliation of Mayor Sandi Bloem and the City Council?