Mica-Kidd voters oust commissioner

Voters in the Mica-Kidd Island Fire District narrowly voted to recall Commissioner Chris Shelton during Tuesday's general election.

According to an unofficial tally, the number of votes for recall was 262, with 222 against recall. A simple majority was needed for the recall to pass.

The vote came despite a recent decision by Kootenai County Deputy Prosecutor Ken Brooks and District Attorney Charles Lempesis that Shelton did not have an illegal executive session while conducting district business.

Shelton earlier told The Press he was frustrated that the recall ballot language accused him of violating executive session rules when it was determined that he had not.

A fire district resident alleged that Shelton was responsible for not following the law in calling for an executive session on July 25.

Some community members also said Shelton had lost touch with residents' "desires and wishes," and they complained about a fee schedule which was developed to charge people for services provided by the fire district.