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ELECTION: Honor nonpartisan approach

| April 23, 2021 1:00 AM

The nonpartisan, May 18 elections are more important this year than ever before. Members of these boards volunteer their time to provide direction and oversight for the common good, not any political party or agenda. I offer the following recommendations.

As a recently retired health care executive, I know the truly difficult and complex challenges of sustaining and growing health care services for a community. Kootenai Health’s current Board of Trustees has provided the direction and oversight that have served us well including the challenges of the last pandemic year. Re-election of Terry Neff, MD, and Ms. Katie Brodie, along with the election of Robert McFarland, MD, will ensure that Kootenai Health stays strong.

What the Community Library Network has achieved is impressive. A talented staff supported by a dedicated and diverse board provides the guidance and oversight we need. Mr. Robert Fish and Ms. Michele Veale will receive my vote for re-election to this board.

There are a number of highway, sewer and water board seats open and a Post Falls School District supplemental levy which highly deserves to pass. I would use as a guide to voting in any of these elections, the election of candidates who have not sworn allegiance to any political committee for an endorsement. These are not political boards! The oversight of these community organizations is to be for the common good. Subservience to a political agenda by definition would create a conflict of interest. The political agenda, not the community needs would take precedence.

Please vote to preserve the nonpartisan nature of these boards.

RICK PALAGI

Kootenai County