District 3 debate eyes land use
COEUR d'ALENE — Although he is unopposed on Tuesday’s election ballot, Chris Fillios gave a lengthy introduction to a room of 20 people Thursday at Java on Sherman.
Fillios — a Republican and the only candidate seeking election to the District 2 Kootenai County commissioner position — articulated his background and platform during a candidate forum hosted by the Kootenai County Environmental Alliance,
When Fillios gave the floor to District 3 commissioner candidate Russ McLain, McLain was true to form.
"I don't think I've said that many words in my entire life," deadpanned McLain, an Independent who fancies himself a cut and dried speaker. "I ask questions and I listen. That's what I do."
As the forum progressed, however, neither Fillios nor McLain — who fielded a cache of questions by moderator Lisa Manning — were short on remarks.
Fillios, who beat current commissioner David Stewart in May's Republican primary, had the most to say on land use.
McLain, running as an Independent against Republican Bob Bingham, and Fillios delved into other county issues toward the end of the 90-minute forum.
Bingham turned down the forum's invitation, a month after also turning down an invitation to a large candidate forum at the Athol Community Center.
One of the questions asked of the candidates was on how they would create a balance between environmental protection of shorelines, private property rights and community character.
McLain, sporting a cast on his arm and noting he was admittedly "loaded" on medication from a recent surgery, answered.
"There are shoreline ordinances with which I have to agree, but where people get confused is clarity. There are shorelines ordinances, but there are setbacks that are completely different. Setbacks are 25 feet on any structure," McLain said. “What I don't like is me, being an outdoors person, I don't like the jet skis slopping up the shore. That chokes the little fish down to the big fish, and that's their habitat. I don't like the big boats. Take Twin Lakes. It's 12-foot deep, they build the mansion and they need the boat to match. They get a 40-foot boat and watch the sand turn up in the back. It's stupid. There's some ways people have to start understanding (the lake) is a living, breathing creature. You wouldn't do that to your child."
The candidates were also asked to detail their experience in land-use issues and their views of the county’s comprehensive plan.
McLain quickly deferred to Fillios, a longtime real estate appraiser.
"One of the issues the writers of the comprehensive plan and planning commission faced was that we were operating with 1970s code and a 1990s comprehensive plan, and the two never really meshed, and I'm not sure that they are meshing all that well now,” Fillios said.
The people in attendance were active in the forum's discussion.
"A group like this can do so much more good — if we can all talk and listen to each other — than all of the politicians in Boise could ever dream of," McLain said.