VOTING: ‘I’ll stick with the KCRCC’s recommendations’

In a town with one newspaper, it’s said, “Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one.” They have the privilege to be the only voice. Last election cycle, rather than endorsing candidates themselves, The Press ran an editorial titled “Organizations Say You Can Trust These Candidates.” The organizations, some claimed to be non-partisan, all endorsed the same list of candidates. These groups were the NIR (North Idaho Republicans), DART (Democrats And Republicans Together) BCEQEC, (Bipartisan Citizens to Elect Qualified Experienced Candidates, NDOC (Nonpartisan Doctors of Coeur d’Alene) and Citizens for Cd’A Public Schools. These organizations had one thing in common — their recommendations differed from the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee’s recommendations.

The Democratic Party had their own list and their picks were the exact same candidates listed in the editorial. For a guy who has voted Republican since about 1983, that seemed strange. Who should I trust? How can some of the groups who claim to be Republican go ahead and support candidates that the Democrats endorse? Why aren’t the Republican groups standing together around common Republican values, such as shrinking government, lowering taxes and regulations, and protecting my constitutional freedoms?

I believe I’ll stick with the KCRCC’s recommendations. Their sample ballot is based on a questionnaire, and I can read the candidates’ answers on their website and compare what they say with what I believe. Personally, I know many of the 73 precinct committee members who interview, measure, and then vote for the people on their recommended list. I trust them much more than a Democrat or a Republican group that sides with the Democrats.

JAMES PATTERSON

Coeur d’Alene