Surplus running for Kootenai County commissioner

COEUR d’ALENE — Rathdrum resident Brett Surplus has announced his candidacy for Kootenai County commissioner.

Surplus grew up in Dalton Gardens and Post Falls. Currently working as a real estate agent with Land of the Free Realty, he said he’s best known for his TV series, “Reel Sportsman.”

He described himself as a “strong Second Amendment supporter” who believes in greater community involvement to strengthen bonds and “to discourage outsiders from creating problems.”

After graduating from the Idaho Peace Officers Standards and Training academy in 1996, Surplus said he worked for the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office for about a year and also later worked for the Kellogg Police Department. Surplus said he “helped organize and mediate support from both sides of the Antifa protests to protect the community from negative national press.”

Surplus seeks the Third District seat held by Commissioner Leslie Duncan.

“I believe in level-headed and sound decision making that serve the taxpayers,” he said in a news release. “We haven’t been getting that from the incumbent.”

In the news release, Surplus said taxpayers are “suffering” from decisions made by commissioners, such as the ongoing Justice Center expansion and purchasing the former Kootenai Electric Cooperative building “without getting it inspected first” and cutting the county assessor’s pay, which was later reversed by a court ruling.

“Further, after five years as a commissioner, the incumbent cannot garner the support from our own public safety employees,” Surplus said. “We were wasting taxpayer money on recruiting and training quality employees, only to lose them to other local agencies that were paying significantly more. Our 911 dispatch team is in shambles. We’re down to nine employees for 24-7 coverage in a community of over 180,000 people. My opponent allowed all of this to happen under her watch. It’s time for change.”

Surplus said he aims to continue protecting property owners’ rights, as well as individuals’ rights to “medical freedom,” and to avoid “the kind of politics that can cost taxpayers a lot of money.”

Candidate filing for the May 21 primary elections begins March 4 and runs through March 15.

Info: www.kcthirdseat.com