2020 CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE: Bill Brooks

Brooks

| March 31, 2020 9:24 AM

NAME: Bill Brooks

DATE OF BIRTH: July 6, 1950

RUNNING FOR: Kootenai County Commissioner, District 1

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign. Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minor in Statistics

Defense Language Institute, Monterey, California. German and Chinese

Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Executive Program

Investment in Excellence, Pacific Institute, Seattle Washington. Mentor and Trainer

Northwestern University School of Law, Evanston, Illinois Extensive training in mediation and arbitration

MILITARY EXPERIENCE: US Army Security Agency. Translator/Interpreter/Interrogator. Clearance: Top Secret/Cryptographic Access/Special Intelligence/Certain Compartmented Projects. Honorable

Discharge. Disabled veteran.

EXPERIENCE IN ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICES:

Kootenai County Board of Commissioners Coeur d’Alene Idaho

Coeur d’Alene Skeet and Trap Club, Hayden Idaho, Board of Directors

Coeur d’Alene Board of Realtors, Coeur d’Alene Idaho. Board of Directors

Spokane Gun Club, Spokane Washington, Board of Directors

MTA (Matanuska Telephone Company) Board of Directors, Palmer, Alaska

Alaska Cable Television Association, Board of Directors, Vice President, Anchorage, Alaska

YEARS AS IDAHO RESIDENT: Since 1999, 21 years

FAMILY: Wife - Bobbi, Daughters – Beth and Melanie, Stepson: Brent Gillaspie, 20 year retired Army Recon Ranger. Currently government employee. Stepdaughter: Tara MacDonald.

Hobbies: Skeet and trap shooting, upland game bird hunting, bird dog training, shotgun collecting.

WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR OFFICE:

Initially, I ran for the office of County Commissioner because I wanted to help people with their problems, much like I did, for almost two years, as the CDA Press Consumer Guy. For two years as the Consumer Guy, I fielded questions from people all over Kootenai County on a daily basis. Sometimes I received as many as 64 calls in one 24-hour period, from very early in the morning to late into the evening. I did this 24/7, 365 days a year. At first there were those that tried to discourage me from publicizing my personal cell phone number. They suggested I “screen” my calls by either using email or letting all calls go to voicemail. I rejected these suggestions because I felt people with problems – all people, would rather talk to a real person instead of being “screened.” I was right. Immediately I began to form a real bond with my readers and with people of Kootenai County.

During my campaign and after taking office I continued that tradition. Call me. If in the rare circumstance I don’t immediately pickup, you can expect a call back from me within minutes.

I want to hear your problems, concerns and suggestions.

The allocation of the funds/revenues the County receives from taxes and fees needs to be carefully allocated to provide the services we all rely on – police protection, solid waste disposal, services for seniors, parks and recreation facilities, and veterans etc.

We are all in this together. To vote “no” on all budget requests is simplistic. To be able to discern a “need” from a “want” takes experience, training and compassion. I have all three, and I want to continue to use my talents for the benefit of my friends and neighbors in Kootenai County.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THREE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES YOU’LL FACE?

Problem: The steady increase in property taxes. Increasing property taxes are destroying the lives and futures of the people of Kootenai County. Outside buyers are coming into our area sending the “assessed” value of every property through the roof. This phenomenon is not new. It’s happened in California and resulted in a “property tax revolt” in the form of the now famous Proposition 13. If state legislators don’t heed the concerns of taxpayers, I can guarantee we will have a tax revolt in Idaho and I will be leading the charge!
Explosive/Uncontrolled Growth. The residents of Kootenai County are here and/or came here, to enjoy the “North Idaho Lifestyle”. Our lifestyle is quickly being lost to uncontrolled growth. There are those that come here to “develop”, grab the profits and leave our area. Fortunately, that is not the attitude of the majority of our oldest community builders and developers. As an elected official, it is my duty to control growth in a responsible manner and make sure all new growth is done responsibly, in full view of the public and that new growth pay for itself in terms of county services – road, police services, parks and waterways etc.
Protection of the Safety and Welfare of the people of Kootenai County. Most recently – a measured effective coordinated response to the Crona/Covid19 virus outbreak. The situation is rapidly evolving. Residents need accurate and timely information.

Late last year, I started a movement to place the issue of the Prison Release Facility on the May 19th ballot for an Advisory vote. Now is the time for voters to turn out and let the Governor and Commissioners know how they feel. Please be sure to vote absentee – prior to May 19th.

IF ELECTED, WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES:

The problems (issues) I have cited will never be “resolved”. They are all ongoing struggles to provide the people of the County with good, responsive and transparent county government. There is always a constant “creep” of government to be secretive, to be non-responsive, and to overtax it’s citizens. Most elected officials become politicians with the best of intentions, and slowly descend into the “swamp”. When a person wins an election, it is usually only a matter of time before they get tired of the struggle and give up. The problem is that they learn to “go along to get along.” This is one of the reasons that the average voter (including me) believes in term limits.

The solution to the “issues” I have cited is long-term daily diligence. Elected officials need to watch and recognize warning signs and citizens need to be involved with their elected officials. Citizens need to “do their homework”. Attend meetings when you can, read minutes of the committee meetings that interest you, and be in contact with your elected officials on an ongoing basis.

I believe it is naïve to think that a list of problems can be “resolved”. I also believe that it is very cynical to think that the problems facing us are beyond our control. For those of us who care, can make a difference, one day at a time.

Everyday, I get up excited to go to work to fight these negative tendencies of government and to make a positive difference.

WHAT SPECIFIC SKILLS OR EXPERIENCES QUALIFY YOU FOR THIS JOB?

I have the formal education, training and experience managing large organizations over decades. Most individuals who have not managed large, complex organizations will immediately begin to micromanage various departments within their purview. This gives them the appearance of understanding operations of a complex function or even being an “expert”. The other tendency of an elected official over their head is to attend and schedule meetings on a daily basis so as to appear in charge and busy.

I am able to understand the function of various departments within the County and ensure that we have the best people available to head those departments. I meet with Department Heads as needed to make sure things are running smoothly.

Kootenai County has an antiquated form of county government. It was finally instituted in 1890. As a result we, like all counties in Idaho, have three county commissioners, in effect giving us three equal CEOs. In order to work effectively anyone elected to the office of County Commissioner must be able to work collaboratively with at least one and hopefully both of the other commissioners.

I have demonstrated that I have those skills developed over many years through education, training and successful experience.

WHY SHOULD VOTERS ELECT YOU, RATHER THAN AN OPPONENT?

I’ve proven that I have the ability to be an effective leader in our county. I’ve proven that I am accessible to all residents of the county – 24/7, 365 days a year. I’ve proven that I can efficiently manage large budgets and supervise people with a light hand without micromanaging. I’ve proven that I know how to utilize county staff without giving over ultimate decision-making authority to those who are not responsible for the outcome. I’ve proven that I am decisive and make the difficult decisions without wavering.

I have proven that I will never give up working for the people of Kootenai County.