Republicans schedule another meet and greet

COEUR d'ALENE - Another meet and greet event has been set up for Republican primary candidates on April 12.

The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee is hosting the event on the same day as its Lincoln Day Dinner, and it overlaps another luncheon meet and greet hosted by the North Idaho Political Action Committee.

"We wanted to provide a direct opportunity to get the Republican candidates in front of the voters," said KCRCC Chairman Neil Oliver. "This will be a good opportunity for the voters to ask questions of the candidates."

Oliver said the meet and greet, which will run from noon until 3 p.m. at the Post Falls American Legion, wasn't designed to compete with the NIPAC luncheon. The central committee decided to host the event for Republicans who cannot afford the $60 Lincoln Day Dinner, or NIPAC's $45 luncheon.

The NIPAC luncheon caused a bit of controversy because it was scheduled for the same day as the Lincoln Day Dinner, which is the central committee's annual fundraiser. Some central committee members viewed the NIPAC event as a competing fundraiser.

"When Brad Corkill (president of NIPAC) announced his luncheon, he said he knew it was going to ruffle some feathers," Oliver said. "We are not trying to ruffle any feathers, we just want to provide an opportunity to meet the candidates."

Corkill said the KCRCC meet and greet isn't likely to affect his fundraiser. The NIPAC event will be held at The Hagadone Event Center at The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

"The two events are close enough together where I think the candidates could probably attend both," Corkill said.