Pischner to seek clerk post

COEUR d'ALENE - Don Pischner announced Monday he is running for Kootenai County clerk.

"I have the experience, qualifications, temperament and willingness to serve Kootenai County residents in this office," he said. "I pledge to serve all residents equally, regardless of party or party faction affiliation."

After earning a degree in accounting, Pischner worked during tax season as a staff accountant for H.F. Magnuson. He spent 20 years in the asphalt paving business, 14 of them as superintendent for Inland Asphalt Co.

"We paved local parking lots, tennis courts, and roadways along with interstate highway projects in Idaho, Montana, Washington and Oregon," said Pischner, 75. "Besides working hands-on with two dozen employees, my duties included cost analysis, bidding, scheduling, project compliance, materials and equipment logistics, and labor relations."

He next worked for Idaho Forest Industries for nine years, followed by Stimson Lumber Co. for 10 years.

Pischner, a Republican, served four terms in the Idaho House, representing District 4A. He was a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

"I worked on nearly every state agency budget at one time or another, yet it seems that analysis and presentation of the difficult and complex prisons budget became my responsibility each year," he said. Other committee assignments were transportation and defense.

He was a member of the Western States Legislative Forestry Task Force, which promoted collaborative forest management programs. The task force conducted hearings throughout the Northwest and lobbied in Washington, D.C.

While serving in Boise, Pischner brought technology to the Legislature, he said.

"Aside from bill drafting, budgeting, debating and voting, my proudest accomplishment was removing the cumbersome, antiquated bill books from our small desks and replacing them with laptop computers for each of the House and Senate members," he said. "Conducting the people's business on the web proved an outstanding achievement of transparency, efficiency and economy."

Pischner served in the military with an Army amphibious transportation group, and was awarded a Commendation Medal for saving a fellow soldier from drowning in the Pacific Ocean.

Pischner is a Museum of North Idaho trustee, and an active private pilot. He researches and writes local history. He has two daughters and five grandchildren residing locally.