PIAZZA: Conflict on paving issue

Before every Kootenai County Commissioners hearing the commissioners are asked if they have any conflicts of interest. What if a commissioner accepts the maximum donation allowed for a re-election campaign? Does this qualify as a conflict of interest when the company comes before the commissioners with a case to be heard?

Apparently Rich Piazza does not think so. He took the $500 maximum donation allowed from Coeur d’Alene Paving in the 2006 election (2006 Kootenai County Sunshine Report) and then proceeded to vote in that company’s favor no less than 100 percent of the time in the following years. In my opinion this is an example of the corruption that is pervasive in our commissioner’s office.

In the coming primary, let’s send a message that we will not allow our commissioners to appear to take money for favors. Please examine the other candidates and vote for one who will uphold the values we believe that public servants should practice.

KIMBERLY HOBSON

Hayden