CURRIE: Opinions vs. outright lies

In response to R.A. Moser's My Turn column that appeared in the Coeur d'Alene Press on Saturday, Sept. 25.

Mr. Moser - I challenge you to show me where or when I ever accused anyone of being ignorant of the facts. When did I ever even imply that I have no respect for the people who voted against me? I am appalled that a so-called "man of God" would publish such fabrications.

As a pastor you stated that you want "legal, peacefully elected representation?" The May primary may have been a legal election, but it was most definitely a dirty campaign on Jai Nelson's part. If Chris Fillios had won the primary I would not be running as a write-in candidate. Chris Fillios is an honest, decent person and would have served Kootenai County well.

Your "FBI training" on observing people must be seriously flawed.

Ms. Nelson completely misrepresented her business qualifications, told outright lies about the other candidate's intentions, her campaign people slandered the other candidate with sexual innuendos, and she couldn't be bothered to show up at several candidate forums and at one was clearly heard to say that she had no intention of working that hard if she were the Commissioner. If this is the person that you want to trust with the well-being of Kootenai County then Mr. Moser that is your right, but you don't need to tell lies about me in the process.

So, you say that you are not ignorant of my record of tax hikes. Are you referring to "new growth" tax dollars? All new homes must be put on the county tax rolls. If not, then the rest of the homeowners would have to subsidize for that new home. I am the most fiscally conservative Commissioner since the late Ron Rankin. I have a verifiable record of fighting on every budget against taking the full 3 percent tax increase we are allowed to take. I have not always been successful, because I am only one vote out of three. I was the lone holdout against putting the jail expansion with the huge dollar amount on the ballot two years ago. I felt it was way too much money, and I still believe that had they gone with a scaled down version that time around then we'd have that new jail now.

I would be happy to answer anyone's questions anytime. Give me a call at 661-8617.

COMMISSIONER

RICK CURRIE

Coeur d'Alene