Democrats add second caucus location
COEUR d'ALENE — The Kootenai County Democrats have announced a second location for the Kootenai County Democratic Presidential Caucus on Tuesday.
The first location, North Idaho College's Schuler Auditorium in Boswell Hall, 880 W. Garden Avenue, won't be quite large enough to accommodate the projected 1,900 caucus-goers who are expected to cast their votes that day. The second location will be Jacklin Building No. 25 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way.
"It's been very nice that I've gotten at least half a dozen calls a day from Democrats," Kootenai County Democratic Chair Paula Neils said Thursday. "People have really stepped up but now I need to expand my universe a little bit. That's a good thing."
Neils said she'll be wearing stickers for former secretary of state Hillary Clinton as well as U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who will be visiting Idaho Falls today and Boise on Monday. Sanders will be hosting rallies to discuss issues including getting big money out of politics, his plan for tuition-free colleges and universities, climate change and universal health care.
"This is an amazing happening," Neils said in a press release. "The presidential campaigns have added new excitement and urgency to spur Democrats to action. We welcome this opportunity to bring more Democrats together in Kootenai County."
Neils said the Kootenai County Democratic Presidential Caucus needs at least 50 more volunteers to count votes, help with parking, register voters and perform other tasks. Laptops, Smartphones and tablets are needed to help with registration, she said.
Doors open at both sites at 4:30 p.m. and close to further arrivals at 6 p.m. If an overflow crowd still occurs at NIC, those who arrive before the 6 p.m. deadline will be given a ticket to take to the fairgrounds to prove they were on time and therefore eligible for admittance.
People who plan to come to the caucus are welcome to choose either site. However, Neils encourages those coming from areas north of Coeur d'Alene and those arriving close to 6 p.m. to go to the fairgrounds.
Participants are encouraged to sign up for the caucus online at www.kootenaidemocrats.org. To volunteer, call Neils at 755-9590.