SHERIFF: Earning his way

I am a new resident of North Idaho, and thus new to North Idaho politics. I have a question: Why do four Republican candidates have to wage an expensive and grueling primary campaign to run for sheriff in the general election, while one Independent candidate automatically gets to run in the general election as the opponent? It seems to me that Bob Norris earned his spot on the ballot, while Mike Bauer arrived through the back door.

The choice for me is clear: I’ll vote for the hard worker vs. the slacker.

THOMAS LOGAN

Coeur d’Alene