Regan reelected KCRCC chair

COEUR d’ALENE — Brent Regan was reelected to a fifth-straight, two-year term as chairman of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee on Thursday.

Regan received 36 votes to 32 votes for Jim Pierce, with two abstaining.

“I'm happy and relieved because there's a lot of work that has to happen in the next couple of weeks for the convention,” Regan said Friday.

The Republican state convention is scheduled June 13 to 15 in Coeur d’Alene.

Regan said he was not surprised by the close vote and praised Pierce.

“He’s a fine man. I respect him, but the committee selected me,” he said. 

Regan said he hopes to build bridges with new members. A slate of challengers backed by the group North Idaho Republicans won 30 spots on the 73-seat central committee in the primary election.

Regan said there is a lot of misinformation out there about KCRCC, what it does and how it operates. 

“It will be revealed as fake news,” Regan said.

Regan believes with so many of the North Idaho Republican-backed candidates now on the KCRCC, they will see what actually transpires in the organization, rather than what they have been told, which will improve party unity.

“I think that will go a long way,” he said.

Pierce, who considers himself a mainstream Republican, said he thought that receiving as many votes as he did made a significant statement.

“We’re not going away. We’re still here,” Pierce said.

“It was worth giving it a shot,” he added. “I knew the odds were against us.”

The Coeur d’Alene man said Thursday’s KCRCC meeting was "very cordial” and fair. He has known Regan for years and gets along with him.

“I respect the guy,” Pierce said.

He said when he was asked to run for KCRCC chair, he was hesitant.

“There’s a big battle out there between the two sides of the Republican party. A lot of it’s not very friendly,” he said.

Pierce isn’t new to politics. 

A fourth-generation Idahoan, he worked on his first campaign in 1974 when he was in fourth grade.

“I was handing out bumper stickers for a guy running against Frank Church,” he said, laughing.

He has served as a precinct committeeman, worked on Republican campaigns, was chair of legislative District 4 and was vice chair of the Republican state party.

Pierce believes the KCRCC and North Idaho Republicans agree on many issues but isn’t sure if they’ll be able to work together anytime soon.

“The fringes are still very much us versus them,” he said.

Marc Stewart, who won his race for committeeman of precinct 405, attended Thursday’s KCRCC meeting that saw about 150 people at the Kootenai County Administration Building.

He said people were polite and respectful.

“It was democracy working,” Stewart said.

Regan said that at one point, he considered not running again, but with the KCRCC facing a strong challenge from North Idaho Republicans, he decided to try and stay on as chairman.

“I felt it was my duty to help out,” he said.

Jack Riggs, a founding member of North Idaho Republicans, congratulated Regan.

He said North Idaho Republicans will continue to promote fundamental Republican principles and real Idaho values.

“It’s good for people to have choices,” Riggs said. 

Mary Souza, former legislator, said she thought the close vote indicated there is a “real need for unity” among Kootenai County Republicans.

“It really shows that people want change,” she said. “They want to have a mix of different viewpoints.”

Souza said while there has been division between KCRCC and North Idaho Republicans, perhaps moving forward they will be able to find issues they can both tackle.

“We’re all Republicans,” she said, "but I think it’s going to be a process.”

The KCRCC meets the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Kootenai County Administration Building. The meetings are open to the public.

    Pierce