OPINION: Democrats deliver

While different factions within the Kootenai County GOP bicker over who is the “real conservative,” Democrats deliver on the national and local issues that really matter.

Here are just some of the many ways that Democrats deliver. The Biden Administration has prompted the Micron Corporation to establish a manufacturing plant in Boise. The Biden Administration funded infrastructure grants to our area to improve Pappy Boyington Airfield, Ione Airport, Felts Field, Sandpoint and Priest River Airports, and Boundary County Airport, among other transportation projects. The total Idaho investment is $15 billion.

Locally, Kootenai County Democrats rallied to raise $2,500 in support of the Veterans Home in Post Falls. This new 64-bed facility houses, feeds and cares for the now-elderly and ailing who sacrificed their younger years in military service. It is also the new home of several Veterans Advocacy Officers, whose job is to, “help all area veterans, their family members and survivors pursue federal and state benefits they have earned through their military service.”

On June 3, Democrats across our state and Kootenai County hosted two booths at the Pride in the Park celebrations. One year ago a white supremacist group attempted to disrupt this inclusive and friendly event. Democrats joined with local business leaders, librarians, church groups, health care organizations, and others at Pride in the Park to say, “Bullies cannot be allowed to win.”

In the May election, Democrats worked for the victorious YES Campaign for Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Lakeland Schools. We gave our time and money to this worthy cause, and we continue to advocate for adequate statewide school funding so periodic levies will one day be unnecessary.

In September, Democrats will walk, as we do every year, with survivors and mental health advocates for the Suicide Prevention Action Network’s Break the Silence 5K event.

Leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas, we will once again host annual food drives. These giving campaigns collect and deliver thousands of dollars worth of food for needy families.

Following a successful community collection drive on Oct. 1, the Kootenai County Democrats Club presented the Coeur d’Alene School District with hundreds of brand new school supplies, many backpacks and $1,200 in cash donations. We contributed an additional $1,000 to the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber of Commerce, that the Coeur d’Alene Tribe matched, to support college funding for graduating high school seniors.

Democrats sponsored two symposiums to spark productive public conversations about abortion restrictions, extremism and voting rights in Idaho. Attendees learned that women living north of Coeur d’Alene can no longer find an obstetrician anywhere between Kalispell, Mont., and Spokane. And they learned that the Idaho Legislature tried to outlaw citizen-led ballot initiatives, mail-in voting and certain forms of voter ID. Democrats want to make sure that everyone understands how misguided court decisions and bad legislation can hurt women and subvert our democracy.

Going forward, Democrats will be there to advocate for the issues that have the most impact on our everyday lives: issues like land use, water quality, North Idaho College accreditation, and more. Democrats deliver on issues that impact real people.

So, while some Republicans jockey for control over their divided party and holler about meaningless culture war issues, Democrats remain focussed on delivering solutions to real challenges. Keep that in mind as we enjoy our summer and before we move into the early phase of the November 2023 election season.

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Evan Koch is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.