Senator sues Kootenai County

COEUR d'ALENE - Idaho Sen. Mike Jorgenson is suing Kootenai County.

Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, filed suit against county clerk Dan English last week, alleging that English acted improperly by not declaring Steven Vick - a candidate for Jorgenson's District 3 Senate seat - ineligible to vote in Kootenai County.

Jorgenson earlier filed a complaint with the Secretary of State's office contending that Vick shouldn't be allowed to run for the seat because of the registration mix up.

The recent suit alleges that English, in his role as clerk, should have maintained and updated registrations of individuals no longer meeting the necessary qualifications.

The suit is seeking a reversal of Vick's status, declaring him a non-registered voter in Kootenai County and for further relief as the court deems just.

The primary election is May 25.

Vick, who first moved to Idaho in 2004, had moved to Montana for three months in 2006, during which time he registered to vote and ran for office in Lewis and Clark County.

English said Kootenai County wasn't notified Vick had moved or registered to vote in Montana, and when Vick moved back to Kootenai County he was informed by Kootenai County he did not need to re-register, as his voting status had never changed.

Marilyn Bracken, elections supervisor for Lewis and Clark County said the department doesn't notify other counties and districts to cancel individuals' previous registrations when new residents sign up to vote there - largely due to the department's workload.

Jorgenson couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.

"It's not my first choice," English said of the suit. "It's just part of the process. It doesn't look like to me that anybody did anything wrong.

"We weren't notified by the state of Montana," he said.