MY TURN: Luke Sommer's Troubling Past; a Call for Voter Vigilance

In the city of Hayden's pending mayoral race, the endorsement of Luke Sommer by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee is causing a stir. While the KCRCC has backed Luke, concerns about his past demand our full attention. Hayden’s reputation for good governance hangs in the balance, which could significantly impact our daily way of life in Hayden if an unsuitable leader is elected. 

The KCRCC has endorsed Luke, branding him a top-notch candidate following a vetting process. Yet, the pressing question lingers: What is the basis for their endorsement? When we scrutinize Luke's history, we encounter disconcerting revelations.

Grave allegations against Luke, including accusations of "emotional abuse," "domineering" behavior" and "mental health issues," were submitted to a federal judge last year for consideration in a reduction of sentencing on behalf of Luke’s son, Elliott Sommer. This isn't mere hearsay; it constitutes recent legal testimony that we must treat with utmost gravity.

In November 2022, a federal judge took action to reduce Elliott Sommer's 2008 prison sentence from 43 to 31 years for armed bank robbery, possession of a destructive device, attempted murder and solicitation of a crime of violence based on the testimony. The judge reportedly gave the most weight to the Bureau of Prisons documentation.

In the appeal, public records from the Bureau of Prisons shared with the judge that Elliott reports he had a “troubled” upbringing, “raised in a fundamentally Christian home with a bipolar father and a mother terrified of setting him off.” 

Elliott has also reported witnessing “domestic violence” and “having caregivers with mental health issues, particularly his father, aunt and uncle.”

189 pages of documents supported Sommer's sentence reduction request, with many letters from individuals who knew him as a child each shedding light on a troubled family environment. Numerous letters from guards and inmates were also included in support of Elliott.

One letter highlighted "conflict with a domineering Father," while another disclosed that they had taken in Elliott as a "crushed and broken young man" after his father, Luke, ejected him from the family home.

A longtime family friend recounted that Luke could be "harsh and manipulative."

Another letter told the Judge, “Besides being unreasonable, Luke also had difficulty working. He was always more interested in being right than relational and so he burned a lot of bridges."

One letter from a family friend also referenced Sommer's inconsistent income as a realtor, which required support from the food bank.

This corroborates a letter that said Luke was made a real estate partner to ensure the family could survive but “Luke would often come to work late after being up all night.”

Adding to these concerns is Sommer's arrest for assault in 2021, stemming from a dispute with his brother over car keys, raising questions about his temperament and judgment.

John Sommer told police that he "tried to stop Luke from leaving," because John alleged Luke was too drunk to drive. The report referenced that John emphasized Luke's role as “a health care worker” and his insistence on driving to work. Although the charges were ultimately dropped by the prosecutor, it is crucial that we consider these statements. 

It is worth noting, Luke’s campaign website does not mention his experience as a health care worker. 

Voters should vet all publicly available resources that speak to Luke Sommer’s professional qualifications, as well as behavioral maturity.  

Could someone with this reputation adequately lead the city of Hayden, free from the chaos KCRCC’s ‘rated/vetted’ candidates are known for? Our way of life is under threat, not from external forces, but from those we empower with authority.

What's even more disconcerting is Luke’s role within the KCRCC as an Executive Committee member. This raises concerns about whether his inner circle position influenced the endorsement he received.

Did the KCRCC undertake a comprehensive review of these documents, or did Sommer's position expedite his endorsement without thorough vetting?

In any hiring process, thorough due diligence is a non-negotiable component. Recent events have exposed our community to insurance coverage losses on employee claims due to leadership issues. Neglecting due diligence when selecting our leaders can lead to dire consequences, as we have seen at North Idaho College.

The voters in the city of Hayden must take it upon themselves to exercise due diligence. Blindly relying on endorsements from any organization, regardless of its reputation, is no longer a viable option. The KCRCC's endorsement of Luke Sommer has cast a shadow of doubt over the rigor of their vetting process.

The future of our community is hanging in the balance. We must ensure that the leaders we choose undergo rigorous scrutiny, for our well-being depends on it.