NIC: An election preview

I was dumbfounded to witness the chaotic spectacle of the NIC Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 22 where the cabal of Trustees Banducci, Barnes and McKenzie fired NIC President MacLennan “without cause.” Mr. MacLennan has enjoyed the support of students, faculty and the community. None of the three trustees deigned to offer even the slightest semblance of a coherent, transparent cause for firing Mr. MacLennan.

I was also appalled that the same group voted down Trustee Wood’s motion to direct NIC’s administration to develop policy on the prevention of spread of infectious diseases as required by Idaho law. In opposition, Trustee Barnes stated, “Not all laws are good. If it is a law that we have to comply with, then I will push back against it. Some laws or statutes are wrong.”

Do these trustees really mean to deliberately obstruct NIC’s administration from complying with the law to formulate policy to protect the health and safety of NIC’s students and staff? That would be dereliction of duty!

The arrogant and autocratic actions of Trustees Banducci, Barnes and McKenzie are a disgrace to the college and our community. These three trustees won election in large part due to the support of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee.

Conveniently, the KCRCC has supplied a list of candidates it endorses in the November elections. Thanks to KCRCC’s list, anyone who expects transparency, decency and respect for democratic (small d) traditions from our elected officials can clearly identify who NOT to vote for.

JIM DUFF

Coeur d’Alene