MIRANDA: For commissioner

Regarding last week’s candidate debate, I was stunned by some of the misrepresentations in Leslie Duncan’s responses. I’d think after vying for a seat on the BOCC for nearly four years, Duncan would be better aware of how the county operates, and would be well informed about county code and policies, but she’s not. As a thoughtful individual, I’m very disappointed in her as a candidate.

For one, she misrepresented what the opt-out option represents. There’s more to this choice than permits and inspections. Opting out means one is free to build a substandard structure being exempt from abiding by approved building codes. Structural integrity has much to do with the safety of those who enter a building, even a chicken coop or a barn.

In response to Ruben Miranda’s clear understanding about how the opt-out option has the potential to gravely impact property values, Duncan made another uninformed claim. She claimed it is a good thing if you and your neighbors’ property values are lower as a result of a home built by opting out of building codes, the result would be lower property taxes. No, lower property values means a higher levy rate to compensate for lowered values. Scary to think she wants to be one in charge of our county’s over $100 million budget.

For Duncan wanting to be a public official charged with providing policy that protects the life, health and safety of our county’s residents to be so ignorant about such safety issues as building codes is reason enough to reject her bid for a seat on the BOCC.

Ruben Miranda is the right candidate for Kootenai County.

SUZANNE MARSHALL

Coeur d’Alene