No, he's not a Democrat

If Dean Haagenson has been backed by the Kootenai County Democratic Party, somebody in a donkey suit forgot to tell him.

Haagenson, seeking a seat on the North Idaho College Board of Trustees - a nonpartisan race - was surprised to see the alleged Democratic Party endorsement in a campaign ad in Sunday's Press. The ad, paid for by the Reagan Republicans Victory Fund with Jeff Ward as treasurer, listed candidates for NIC's board and their alleged party endorsements or support.

"I was voting Republican since before Jeff Ward was in diapers," Haagenson quipped Monday afternoon. He said the ad attempts to paint him as something he's not because the Reagan Republicans prefer another candidate for that trustee spot.

A former Haagenson rival agrees.

"How can they use the word 'Democrat' as a way to defame Dean Haagenson, who served as a Republican Representative in the Idaho State House of Representatives from 1983 to 1990?" asked Democrat Mary Lou Reed in an email to The Press.

"Dean and I ran against each other in 1982 and he won hands down, so I remember clearly that he was and is a Republican. And we served in the same legislature for four years and even cooperated on a few issues of importance to North Idaho.

"I have great respect for Dean, and I know this ad is not only misleading, but hurtful for someone who has served his party, our county and our state for many years."

Reed said her party has not and will not endorse for the three nonpartisan trustee races.

"Inserting partisanship into the traditionally nonpartisan selection of North Idaho College Trustees is inappropriate and has been a consistent strategy throughout the trustee campaign, forcing incumbents to raise and spend large amounts of money for an essentially volunteer job," she wrote.

"It's just a tactic," Haagenson agreed, "and it's probably a pretty effective tactic."