ELECTION: Duncan won’t get this vote

No endorsement for Commissioner Leslie Duncan for the following reasons:

Commissioner Duncan proposed and led the vote that lifted the long-standing ban against boats making excessive wakes on the Spokane River. Through Duncan’s leadership, those families recreating on the Spokane River have less protection than anywhere else in the county.

Boats making excessive wakes or enhancing waves for wake surfing, compromises the safety of families or individuals who canoe, kayak, who tow their kids on a floatee, and those simply swimming or sunning near shore. There have been studies that illustrate how surf boats can stir up sediments and destroy aquatic habitats in shallower water. This ban was not a good thing for our river in anyway. So you have to ask yourselves why the ban?

Commissioner Duncan voted against establishing a study committee when the issue of researching optional forms of government was being discussed. However the study committee was formed and many good, dedicated, responsible citizens spent countless days, hours and months researching the subject. Many meetings were held to openly present their findings to the public. In my opinion Commissioner Duncan opposed this issue from the beginning. 

Kootenai County is growing and government should evolve with it. And if that means looking at other methods of governing than the status quo, then bring it on! In the end, one vote was taken to place this issue on the ballot with a yes vote and another vote was taken with a no vote. So my fellow citizens, you and I never had the opportunity to vote on such an innovative, well-researched optional form of government. These are not positions of a good commissioner.

CAROL PARR

Coeur d’Alene