Commissioner candidate forum Thursday in Athol

The Friends of Timberlake, a group of citizens living within the boundaries of the Timberlake Fire District, will host a forum Thursday featuring Kootenai County commissioner candidates.

The forum begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Athol Community Center, 30355 N. Third St.

All candidates seeking election to the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners are expected to attend.

“It will be an evening of questions and answers regarding the future of Kootenai County,” stated the group’s announcement. “This is a challenging time for residents in the rural areas of Kootenai County, as new ordinances are presently being formulated dealing with the future growth of our communities. There is a distinct difference of opinion among candidates going forward with these new rules and regulations, and only by hearing the candidates speak and respond to your questions will you be able to make an informed decision with your vote.”

There are six Republican candidates seeking two available commissioner seats. Chris Fillios and incumbent David Stewart are vying for the District 2 position. In District 3, the candidates are Bob Bingham, Leslie Duncan, Fred Meckel and Duane Rasmussen.

Without any Democratic challengers in the May 17 primary, the winning candidates in each commissioner district will run unopposed on the November ballot.