MY TURN: How does Brent Regan vote?
In response to the My Turn of April 18, does Dean Haagenson know how Brent Regan personally votes? In paragraphs four and six he assumes Mr. Regan votes for the vetted and recommended KCRCC candidates. As per party rules, the 73 elected precinct committeeman vote to determine the recommended candidate. Brent only votes for his own precinct. ONE VOTE! And, any of these fine elected individuals are free to vote for whomever they choose during this process and in the primary and/or general elections.
The “unthinking loyalty” to Mr. Regan is a pipe dream. There are genuine and deep disagreements and discussions in the KCRCC. He is an educated, accomplished man who is serving his community and party without a personal agenda or need. Money? Power? Control? Look to the local liberals for that nonsense. You’ll find them in the North Idaho Republican group.
Now, what happens when an elected board changes power from liberal to conservative? All hell breaks loose. After decades of control and having it their way, liberals freak out if one little thing (or some big important thing) begins to be changed, and, changed in a way that represents a majority of the community who thoughtfully elected them. Of course there will be upheaval. Of course there will be disruption. Of course there will be working things through in a new direction. There might even be a few mistakes along the way. Working to redirect decades of liberal leadership and choices is messy. It takes a little time to “turn the Titanic around.”
The “turmoil” you suggest is NOT due to unqualified officials. There has been a change in how these boards do their jobs. For decades they have made rubber-stamp liberal decisions. There has been a dereliction of duty. Many of their decisions benefited their local friends, family and/or business associates, not the greater community.
Your seventh paragraph is a personal opinion of someone who has ascribed to the decades of liberal control over these boards. You name call the KCRCC as a cult. This unintelligent name calling is the very thing that has been lamented and discouraged by so many from your side of the spectrum. Yet your people continue name calling with extreme, ineffective and incorrect judgment in the paper almost every day. Boy do you all get the ink. But, this is the Cd'A Press propaganda machine.
Your listed elected positions were supposed to be “nonpartisan.” But we know better. Conservative Idahoans have been focused on life, family, faith, and business, and too long have allowed liberals to take over almost all of the positions you mention. There has been an awakening of Idahoans. Newcomers see it too. Oops. What happened? We elected so many to positions of power/control who DO NOT have conservative values. They have posed as Republicans, but have voted or supported the destruction of much of what is good about our community, our state, our families, values and beliefs. And your party complains that newcomers are running for and being elected to local positions. THEY, at times even more than the longer locals, recognize what’s happening as it mirrors the “sanctuary” cities and states they’ve relocated from.
Calling the current committeeman “crazy” is lazy and lying. And, who are you to question a person’s character because they do not agree with you?! Calling your form of liberal candidates “thoughtful and public-spirited” is simply obtuse. The majority of your (NIR/RINO) candidates challenging the current 73 committeemen have never been to a central committee meeting or volunteered or engaged to provide input. Oh, maybe it is because they recently switched parties just to undermine the local GOP?
The “threats to our community” you speak of have been clearly identified by this community (the caring conservatives who HAVE engaged and voted). It is you and your liberal party who are the threat. The organized (privately funded) attempt to take over the KCRCC will fail. Oh, you may gain a few seats, but those few elected will either not show up or be completely ineffective at accomplishing a RINO takeover of our strong, conservative Kootenai County GOP.
If you are a Republican who subscribes to the Republican platform, https://idgop.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-24-Idaho-Republican-Party-Platform-1.pdf, you can serve your family, your community and your future by doing your due diligence. Go to https://www.kootenaigop.org/ for detailed information on all genuine GOP information.
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Babette R. Banducci is a Post Falls resident.