Scribe: DFO’s A Republican?

The Scribe: I am amazed that the folks I talk to tell me you are a republican. I think you should have both sides of the political spectrum but what bothers me is you are always ready to say terrible things about republicans and never about the Dems. Im believin’ you are out to hurt our party.

DFO: I put my community (Coeur d’Alene) before any political party. If a political party, or group of partisans from a political party, attack my community, I’ll respond accordingly. Local Republicans have been attacking my community for 2 or 3 years now, trying to export their ideology into such nonpartisan elected offices as school board, highway district and City Council. It’s more important to the partisans, I believe, to elect someone with an “R” after his/her name than it is to select the best person. The failed recall of Mayor Sandi Bloem and three City Council members, in which key Republicans (Mary Souza, Kathy Sims and Sharon Culbreth) were heavily involved, is proof to me that local Republicans oppose Coeur d’Alene’s well being. Fortunately, some Republicans joined in the bipartisan Decline to Sign effort that thwarted the bloodless coup attempt. I have never voted for a Democrat for president. However, I vote for the best candidate at state and local level, regardless of party affiliation, which means my general election ballot is fairly evenly divided. I look forward to the day when Kootenai County Republicans will be for something that benefits my community rather than against everything.

Question: Does the local Republican Party reflect your views on politics?