ELECTION: Please write in Bob Scott for Assessor

As a Republican and a former Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) member, I’ve paid close attention to their candidate endorsements in this election cycle. It used to be that Republicans highly valued competence and leaders who were accountable. However, our current assessor, Bela Kovacs, is neither. There aren’t many issues on which all three county commissioners agree, but Kovacs’ performance has been so dismal that the commissioners voted unanimously to cut his pay.

Kovacs delivered tax data more than a month late to other offices and departments of the county. County Clerk Jim Brannon warned that this tardiness could result in higher property taxes for county residents. Kovacs has driven off dozens of longtime employees with his tirades and disrespect, but when these became public, he blamed the longtime employees for the dysfunction. Unable to hire replacements for all the employees he’d chased off, Kovacs had to beg the commissioners to pay $260,000 to hire outside contractors to fill the void.

Each time he is asked about these failings, it’s someone else’s fault. When the commissioners held him accountable and cut his pay, Kovacs sued the county. Ultimately, all his incompetence and the refusal to take responsibility costs us, the taxpayers, spending our money on extra contractors and lawsuits.

As a conservative, I want competence in government. It’s time for the taxpayers to end this sad circus and demand accountability — at the ballot box. Join me in writing in Bob Scott for Kootenai County Assessor on Nov. 8.

RUTH SMITH

Coeur d’Alene