Athol forum goes on w/o Bingham

ATHOL — Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger said he and his opponent in the Nov. 8 general election, Democrat Tina Kunishige, are both lacking in the height department.

But similarities between the two ended there during Wednesday night’s candidate forum at the Athol Community Center attended by more than 60.

Kunishige said poor morale is a big problem at the sheriff’s office and the climate must be addressed.

“It’s not necessarily the pay that’s the issue, it’s a wide variety of issues,” she said. “I would listen to the deputies, and what the issues are with them. Without the deputies, the office will not run right.”

Wolfinger, a Republican, responded by stating retention of employees remains an issue facing the department.

“It’s hard to compete when a guy can live in the same house, his kids can go to the same school, and he can make $10 an hour more if he goes to work 30 minutes away,” Wolfinger said/ Keith Cousins & Brian Walker , Coeur d’Alene Press. More here.