Will the real Democrats please stand up?

COEUR d'ALENE - Six. That's how many fake Democrats the Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee is being forced to deal with as newly elected precinct captains.

The half-dozen dummy Democrats will be politely asked to resign, said Paula Neils, executive committee chair of the central committee.

"We ask people to be here and be supportive of our principles and our candidates," Neils said Wednesday, following the central committee's meeting.

Neils identified Tamra D. Dale II, Bob McBride, Karen Sullivan, Thomas Macy, Richard Teich and Dale Herboldt as either Independents or Republicans. All won primary elections last week.

Neils said because the six are elected they can't be forced out.

"They can't even get kicked out if they don't show up," Neils said. "But we can appoint vice-chairs who can vote in their stead. And that's what we'll do in as many cases as we can."

She said she spoke with one of the fakes, who admitted he was encouraged to run by local Republican political agitator Larry Spencer.

"Larry Spencer was very open about his goals and what he wanted to do," said Tamara Poelstra, the central committee's Legislative District 4 chair. "So that made us make sure that we paid attention.

"Then we just went through the list going, 'OK, we don't know who these people are,'" she said.

At Wednesday's meeting, Neils, of Hauser, was chosen by the central committee to continue as chair. Steve Bruno, of Coeur d'Alene, remains vice-chair; Barbara Harris, of Coeur d'Alene, remains treasurer; and Steve Kane, of Post Falls, will continue as secretary.