‘Save NIC’ candidates sweep trustee race

COEUR d’ALENE — As the final deadline for North Idaho College to return to good standing with its accreditor approaches, Tuesday’s general election seismically shifted the balance of power on NIC’s board of trustees. 

Rick Durbin, Eve Knudtsen and Mary Havercroft swept the races for three seats on the board Tuesday night and are poised to form a solid majority with sitting trustees Brad Corkill and Tarie Zimmerman. 

The new trustees will be sworn in at the Nov. 20 board meeting. 

Save NIC Now, a political action committee, backed the slate of candidates, promoting them as “strong, no-nonsense, conservative-minded candidates” who are “here to clean up the board and get NIC back on track.” 

In Zone 3, Rick Durbin beat William Lyons, receiving 52% of the vote and more than 41,600 votes overall. Eve Knudtsen unseated Greg McKenzie, the sole incumbent, with 55.7% of the vote and more than 45,300 votes total. Mary Havercroft emerged as the winner in Zone 5, beating Michael Angiletta with more than 40,700 votes and 51% of the total. 

At the center of the contentious nonpartisan race was the show cause sanction issued in February 2023 by NIC’s accreditor, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. 

Show cause is the last step before loss of accreditation. North Idaho College has until April 1, 2025, to resolve the remaining issues identified by the NWCCU, most of them related to board governance and trustee behavior. 

The latest report issued by the NWCCU found that governance has improved at North Idaho College but warned that the positive changes may not last. 

Havercroft said the full sweep showed that their vision for NIC resonated with the community. 

“Just the fact that we all won shows that there’s a lot of support for the college,” she said. “People realize how important it is for the community.” 

The KCRCC-backed candidates appeared to downplay governance as NIC’s root problem and described the college’s accreditation woes as “unelected bureaucrats threatening to take (NIC) away.” 

Lyons, McKenzie and Angiletta received the endorsement of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee. The candidates did not immediately return requests for comments Wednesday. 

The trustee race was the only loss for the KCRCC Tuesday night. Of the 28 races in which the central committee endorsed candidates, 25 of those candidates won. 

“I am very proud of the candidates and the campaigns they ran,” Kootenai County GOP Chair Brent Regan told The Press via email. “I wish the new NIC trustee elects all the best and look forward to North Idaho College continuing on its current upward trajectory.” 

Knudtsen is president and dealer operator of Knudtsen Chevrolet in Post Falls. As a businesswoman, she has emphasized how NIC supports the workforce and regional economy. 

“I’m really humbled by the people who supported me and believed in me,” Knudtsen said. “They can count on me to do what’s in the best interest of the college and our community so that we continue to turn out a phenomenal workforce.” 

Though Knudtsen never envisioned herself as a politician, she said the trustee race has given her the opportunity to serve NIC and the wider community in a new way. 

“I never imagined I would be a candidate for anything,” she said. “That wasn’t in my plans. But the opportunity was presented and I felt a nudge from above that said, ‘You need to try.’” 

Durbin, a North Idaho College graduate and father of two NIC students, said he chose to run because of NIC’s accreditation crisis.

“I look forward to serving NIC, the faculty, the students and the community, as well as tackling the challenge of reaffirming accreditation and moving forward,” he said. 

Christa Hazel, who helped found Save NIC, said the election results are a major victory after years of chaos at NIC. 

“It feels like an epic ending to a long nightmare for the community, one that was unbelievable at first,” she said. “I’m grateful that we came together as a community and we did it over North Idaho College.” 

In the immediate future, Hazel said she expects to see a stable board and trustees who advocate for NIC with its accreditor and prioritize a sustainable budget. 

“We’re on the upswing in resolving our accreditation crisis,” she said. “Now that the people who created the crisis are no longer on the board and we have a commitment from all five trustees to work together and put accreditation above any agenda, I think NIC will be able to rapidly navigate through its most significant challenges.” 

Havercroft reaffirmed the incoming trustees’ commitment to securing accreditation and rebuilding relationships with key constituent groups. 

“I just hope people are going to be able to relax and be able to trust again that we’re a team and that we’re going to support the college and work with (faculty and staff) to continue the good things they’re already doing,” Havercroft said. “I believe firmly that they’ve been heroes to do everything they’ve done, in spite of the conflict they’ve had to deal with.”