Eberlein, Duncan win commissioner races

COEUR d’ALENE — Marc Eberlein won the four-way Republican race for Kootenai County Commissioner District 1, retaking the seat he lost in 2016 to outgoing commissioner Bill Brooks.

Eberlein, a Post Falls resident, garnered 11,153 votes, about 39% of the total.

He indicated early Tuesday evening that he didn’t plan to stay up late watching the results roll in.

“I’ll find out tomorrow morning what happened,” he said.

At Lyfe Coffee in downtown Coeur d’Alene, more than 100 supporters of John Padula filled the space with prayer and worship music. Padula received 6,509 votes.

“You won’t ever see another political event like this,” one woman wearing a red Padula campaign shirt said with a smile.

Padula became emotional as he looked out over the crowd, while waiting for the votes to be tallied.

“With my past before I came to Christ, to be where I am and have people from all walks of life supporting me — it’s incredible,” he said.

Dale Gibbony, who received 4,940 votes, shared a simple sentiment Tuesday night.

“It’s up to the voters and they’ve spoken,” he said.

Bat Masterson received 5,414 votes.

Eberlein will run uncontested in November.

Incumbent commissioner Leslie Duncan held onto her District 3 seat, garnering 65% of the vote and 18,090 votes overall.

“I think any campaign where the candidate remained positive, promoted their skills, experience, education and principals on which they base their decisions is a successful one,” Duncan said Tuesday evening.

She said she’s proud of her campaign team.

“It was difficult this season maintaining my full-time responsibilities at the county and putting in a top-notch effort amongst the mudslinging, but here at the final hour, I am grateful for all of the voters who support my ongoing effort to serve the citizens of Kootenai County,” she said. “Win or lose today’s election, I know I did my best and only had the well-being of the citizens of Kootenai County in mind.”

Brett Surplus, who received 9,466 votes total, said the race was marked by “divisiveness.” He pointed specifically to the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee’s candidate endorsement process and said he believes some local conservatives have been wrongfully labeled as “Republicans in Name Only” or “RINOs.”

“I think there’s flaws in a system that we just naturally relied on for so long,” he said. “I used to be the guy who would walk in with a sample ballot feeling that this was done to the best interest of the community. I don’t have the faith to say that anymore.”

Surplus said he focused on his opponent’s track record during the campaign.

“Either the people are going to want change or they’re going to be OK with continuing on the same path we have been,” he said.

Duncan will face independent candidate Roger Rowland in November.

    Kootenai County Commissioner District 1 candidate John Padula, alongside wife Amanda and son Ezekiel, join supporters at Lyfe Coffee Tuesday night.