CLN: Board is alienating its communities

Regarding your article titled “New Trustee Selected for Community Library Network Board” (Nov. 22), I attended the meeting in question. I observed two of the three applicants present their cases for the open trustee position.

Tony Ambrosetti outlined his qualifications, emphasizing his identity as a constitutionalist and patriot, though these points seemed irrelevant to the role. Notably, he has never held elected office and appeared to align his views with the highly conservative positions of certain board members. 

In contrast, Michelle Lippert presented impressive credentials: 24 years as a Post Falls School Board member and 26 years as a professor at NIC. Her qualifications and call for balanced representation far exceeded those of Mr. Ambrosetti. Nevertheless, the majority of the board — Tom Plass, Rachelle Ottossen, and Tim Hanley — chose ideological alignment over experience. 

The troubling implications of their decision became evident in their expressed commitment to a theocratic approach to governance. For instance, in August 2023, they voted to close libraries on Sundays, claiming it was to “please the Lord.” At the Nov. 21 meeting, Trustee Hanley explicitly stated that his Catholic faith would guide his decisions as a trustee. Such positions undermine the principle of separation between personal religious beliefs and public duties. 

By prioritizing religious convictions, the board risks alienating a diverse community and setting a dangerous precedent where governance is driven by individual faith rather than the collective welfare. This approach threatens the inclusivity and fairness vital to serving all constituents effectively. 

THERESA BIRKETT

Post Falls