Bingham seeks county commission seat

Bob Bingham, founder of the North West Property Owners Alliance, announced he will seek the District 3 seat on the Kootenai County commission board currently held by fellow Republican Dan Green.

District 3 is in the north-central part of the county. Bingham lives in the Athol/Bayview area.

Bingham launched into community service when a concerned neighbor called him in 2012 about the proposed unified land use code.

Bingham united citizens and founded the NWPOA, aimed at protecting property rights.

"It has been very humbling to me that over the last three to four years, people from communities all around Kootenai and Bonner counties have invited me to speak on topics related to property and privacy rights and to represent their collective interests before elected officials," Bingham said.

Bingham said he is dedicated to the spirit of the U.S. Constitution, the application of conservative principles and the desire for a nimble and transparent government.

Bingham spent two decades working in the power industry, serving as plant manager of a 600 megawatt, $300 million power generation facility and overseeing an annual budget of $33 million. He spent another decade working as a commercial and residential general contractor.

Bingham obtained his credentials as a certified code inspector in the 1980s.

If elected, Bingham said he plans to work with staff, other agencies and elected officials to make county government more transparent.

Applying research-based data and seeking consensus to solve long-range facility needs such as jail expansion is another priority. Bingham said he plans to explore new ways to stimulate economic growth so property owners are not burdened with higher taxes.

Bingham and his wife, Paige, have been married 35 years. They have one adult child, Elisabeth, who lives in Hayden.