REGAN: Column lists disinformation

Brent Regan’s opinion column “Pattern of Deception,” Sept. 22, listed numerous and significant instances of disinformation, including:

1) Wayne Manis was the lead FBI agent during the Ruby Ridge standoff.

FACT: In his book (page 419), Manis states his only involvement in this event was to have transported/escorted Randy Weaver to a hospital then to federal detention.

2) Regan insinuated Christie Wood and Christa Hazel were behind a plan with progressives to cause NIC to lose accreditation by “inducing dysfunction.”

FACT: Wood actually was hopeful she would be able to maintain a productive and mutually respectful work relationship with new trustees Greg McKenzie and Michael Barnes. She attempted to achieve that objective without cooperation from McKenzie or Barnes. Hazel is committed to preserving NIC’s accreditation, not to losing it.

3) Hazel participated in disrupting an NIC board meeting in order to “cause the very board dysfunction needed to cause NIC to lose accreditation.”

FACT: I’ve observed all NIC meetings for years, Hazel is not guilty as accused.

4) Hazel led an effort to remove Barnes by false accusation and threats of litigation.

FACT: Having been Barnes’s neighbor, I brought attention to the fact Barnes had moved out of Kootenai County. Regan knew Barnes had moved. Barnes resigned from the KCRCC stating he had moved. Hazel led no effort to remove Barnes. Many community members were troubled by a nonresident seated on the NIC Board of Trustees. Idaho law required Barnes’s seat be declared vacant once he established residency in South Dakota as he did.

Trustworthiness and integrity should be the most important to you. Yes, there truly is a pattern of deception taking place — Brent Regan’s.

DEBORAH ROSE

Kootenai County