C1 My Turn: KCRCC can and must do better

I felt the need to let someone in the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee know that you have false information on your website. This is in direct opposition to your “open and transparent” policies listed on your website.

I am relieved to make this catch, and although it is too late to make a difference for the Nov. 2 election, I look forward to clearing this up with you so that errors like this won’t happen in the future.

While browsing through your candidate endorsements, I clicked on the link for candidates who you claim “did not respond” to your questionnaire. One candidate stood out. Paul Wagner was listed as a ‘no response’ candidate.

In truth, he was never contacted by your organization. In fact, he emailed your organization to ask why, but he received no response.

This is an unfortunate mistake for an organization claiming to be “A Voice For Kootenai County.” How can you be a voice for all when you opt out of vetting candidates who have proven to their community they are capable and able to do the work that is asked? If people in Kootenai County were made aware that you make these selective oversights, they might begin to question what you base your endorsements on.

It appears on my end that you made a mistake, but I am hopeful you can respond with an obvious answer to this error.

Paul Wagner was the incumbent Fire Commissioner for Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Sub District 4, and had been for the past 11 years. Over the years he kept his constituents happy. He has a list of accomplishments while serving the community. They can all be summarized as successful because he was endorsed by those he worked directly for, the firefighters.

This endorsement should have put him at the top of your list but at the very least, warranted a phone call to see if he could meet your standards. Even though that outreach never happened, you told your voters that it did.

Interestingly enough, Paul is and has been a lifelong Republican. This being a “central” aspect of your organization again would lead me to believe he at least makes the cut for candidates to vet. But again, I remind you that no one bothered.

Paul has been serving his community in a multitude of different volunteer organizations since he moved here about 40 years ago. He is knowledgeable on the history of the area and has watched it grow and change. He is aware of what is needed and has had a front-row seat to changes that haven’t worked as well. He has been a proud citizen the entire time.

This is yet another quality that I assume would make a good candidate based on your organization's interests. However, you wouldn’t know any of these details because you didn’t ask.

It does appear that his opponent was a worthy candidate. I read his questionnaire on your page and was very impressed and confident that he will be able to carry out the duties. However, Paul Wagner was already doing that job without fail. You should have felt confident in him because we have been witness to his community service for 10 years.

I put a lot of thought into what could have taken him off your list without your review of the questionnaire you claimed to have sent to him. Paul Wagner checks every box for your organization's goals and intentions. It’s possible this was an innocent mistake, small though it may seem to you, but unfair to candidates and unfair to Kootenai County residents.

I had anticipated higher standards from your group. It should concern you that a supporter of organizations like yours would start to question your practices. Moving forward, do better. Kootenai County does need fair and honest leadership now more than ever.

Your organization has proven to be one that voters listen to. Don’t let them down by leaving them with questions that can’t be answered easily and obviously. If you say you reached out, reach out. Your false statement of Paul Wagner as a non-responder makes him appear careless and not serious about his position.

Please help explain to me, if you can, what details I have missed here so that you can restore my confidence. Otherwise, it's clear you messed up this time. I hope with your consideration, this message can help uphold the integrity of your organization moving forward.

Stacey Pfahler grew up in Kootenai County and now lives in Missoula, Mont. She also happens to be Paul Wagner's proud daughter.