OPINION: Let’s talk about endorsements

Just over six weeks from today, on Nov. 7, you will be asked to elect (or re-elect) city council members, school board trustees, and fire district commissioners.

Voters often ask which candidates are endorsed or supported by their political party. That’s understandable. But let’s be clear: off-year elections like this one in November are meant to be non-partisan. The jobs that you, the voter, are hiring for require expertise in a given field — not just strong political opinions.

Before every election, the Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee robustly debates endorsements. This year, we unanimously voted to not have a list of endorsed candidates in a non-partisan race.

Here is our reasoning: non-partisan candidates should rise above their partisan loyalties and campaign independently. If elected, these candidates should serve all citizens equally.

If someone tells you that the Kootenai County Democrats have an endorsement list, they are lying. Rather, we encourage local Democrats to be well-informed, civically engaged, and support the candidates who they personally believe are best for the job.

While our refusal to endorse makes it more difficult for some voters to choose whom to vote for, we do offer a wealth of information and informative resources.

First, connect with your Democratic precinct captain (here’s an easy link to the contact form: https://bit.ly/ElectionsHelp). They are well informed, politically engaged people who can help with any elections-related question.

Second, look for opportunities to hear first-hand from the candidate. We will publish these opportunities via our email and social media.

Finally, carefully consider who the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee is endorsing.

In order to be endorsed, these candidates must swear allegiance to a chilling party platform (referred to in last week’s column). A review of the questions asked in the KCRCC’s vetting process makes clear that these endorsed candidates possess deep party loyalty, but few qualifications for the job they are seeking.

This so-called vetting process has been criticized as biased, even by Republican candidates.

The KCRCC vetting process may be biased, but it serves a valuable purpose. It shows voters who NOT to vote for.

I know this sounds glib, but it’s nonetheless true. For Kootenai County to thrive, it is vital that we elect qualified professionals, not political party puppets.

Public administration is serious business, and unqualified office holders can make serious mistakes. One need look no further than the North Idaho College Board of Trustees.

The KCRCC “vetted” and/or supported the three majority trustees on the NIC Board (McKenzie, Banducci and Waggoner). They have brought the institution they were elected to preserve to the brink of destruction.

Let us not forget that the KCRCC also “vetted” the County Assessor, Bela Kovacs, who was denied half his salary last year because of his ineptitude. And the KCRCC “vetted” three Community Library Network trustees who now threaten to cut programming and funding throughout our otherwise enviable network of county libraries.

Mayhem best describes the work of KCRCC “vetted” candidates.

The very integrity of our local government is on the ballot this November. Remember that the KCRCC’s endorsements are a simple statement of party loyalty, not qualifications for the job. Be an active and informed voter. Your involvement is crucial if we want to build a more perfect union.

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Evan Koch is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.