MY TURN: Rating and vetting — a view from inside
Much is being discussed, both for and against, regarding the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee’s rating and vetting process. This system was put into place because some politicians had been elected who didn’t vote for bills in support of the ideals found in Idaho’s GOP platform. Some were not even actual Republicans. They put an R by their name because they thought that would get them elected. Thus, the need to rate and vet candidates.
As a precinct committeeman, I would like to share with you what goes into the rating and vetting process so you can better understand how we come to create our recommended list of candidates. The first time I participated in the process, I was impressed with its thoroughness.
Every candidate running as a Republican has the option of looking to be recommended by the KCRCC. If they seek the recommendation, they are asked to fill out a questionnaire. This questionnaire is given to every candidate, and it contains 10 questions. You can view the questionnaire at the KCRCC website under rating and vetting: https://shorturl.at/akqz2.
Once the candidate completes the questionnaire, they are interviewed by the rating and vetting committee. This subcommittee of the KCRCC consists of approximately 12 people: some from the KCRCC and some are leaders of the community. As the committee interviews the candidate, they use the questionnaire as a starting point. There is also a scoring system to determine if the candidate’s values align with the Idaho Republican Party’s platform.
Continuing the process, it becomes the individual committeemen’s opportunity to do their homework. They may have a one-on-one conversation with the candidate in person or by phone to ask questions. They may also attend campaign events to learn a candidate’s position on specific issues. It is the committeemen’s job to get to know a candidate before the vote of recommendation. A lot of time is spent determining if the candidate is a conservative Republican.
As a precinct committeeman, I have personally taken the time to go to as many events as possible, and I have talked to all the candidates. I take this responsibility seriously. The candidates I vote to recommend must represent the Republican Party and our community’s values.
After the questionnaire is reviewed and scored and individual interviews are completed, the whole KCRCC meets to debate. Each candidate is discussed during an executive session, so each member is free to voice their findings without intimidation. The rating and vetting committee presents the candidate’s score earned from the questionnaire, interviews and other gained information. The results from a professional background check are also presented. There are specific rules to follow during the debate, and they are strictly enforced. For instance, absolutely no hearsay is allowed, only factual, first-person information. Engaging in this procedure prepares all PC to make an informed decision.
Just imagine 60 adults, from all walks of life, sitting around a table debating each candidate. A debate for a single elected position can last over an hour. And often it does! For the upcoming May election, 23 prospective candidates went through this process. Obviously, the more people running, the longer the debate process. After the debate is concluded, paper ballots are distributed to the PCs for a confidential vote. To receive the KCRCC’s recommendation, a candidate must have 50% or more of the total vote.
Why does the KCRCC go to all this trouble and only suggest one candidate for each position? The answer is simple. In the past, too many people deceitfully ran as Republicans. The disastrous result is an official who doesn’t vote for bills in support of the values of the Republican Party. Why does the KCRCC only recommend one candidate per race? Because there is a strong chance of splitting the vote between two Republicans, which would allow a weak candidate to win.
The KCRCC’s recommended candidate list is not intended to prevent citizens from doing their own research. Its purpose is to aid them in determining which candidates are conservative Republicans who stand for faith, family and freedom.
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Stephanie Schad is a Coeur d'Alene resident.