MY TURN: Your vote can save NIC from more chaos

North Idaho College is running out of chances. For over 90 years, NIC has been a powerhouse of opportunity, providing education, jobs, and an economic boost to our community. NIC provides a foundation of freedom for families and small businesses.

But reckless mismanagement by the current board majority has put all of that in jeopardy. And the worst part? The very people responsible for this chaos are asking for your vote again.

The current board majority — endorsed by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) — includes Greg McKenzie, Todd Banducci, and Michael Waggoner. Under their watch, NIC has spiraled into dysfunction.

They’ve wasted more than $12 million of taxpayer dollars and lost private donations. Let that sink in.

That’s money meant to support students, fund scholarships, and improve infrastructure, but it was flushed away through bad decisions, leadership failures and divisive drama.

Now, McKenzie is running for re-election, and the KCRCC is pushing two new faces, Michael Angiletta and William Lyons. But let’s be honest — these newcomers will follow McKenzie, the same man who’s driven NIC into the ground.

Here’s the reality of what’s happened to our money:

• $500,000: Fired President Rick MacLennan without cause.

• $400,000: Legal battles over the illegal suspension of President Nick Swayne.

• $235,000/year: Salary for Greg South, while still paying Swayne.

• $35,000: Signing bonus for Greg South.

• $1.2 million/year: Tripled insurance premiums due to board mismanagement.

• $6 million: Ballooned athletics budget, prioritizing international athletes over local kids.

• Over $4.4 million: Lost donations and scholarship funds that could have supported local students.

That’s more than $12 million wasted — real dollars that affect NIC’s future. Instead of investing in scholarships, infrastructure, or quality education, this board threw millions away on lawsuits, sham investigations, and bloated contracts.

The most urgent issue is NIC’s Show Cause Sanction — the last step before losing accreditation.

If NIC loses accreditation, the fallout will be devastating. It won’t just hurt students; it will ripple through the community. 1,300 local jobs are at risk, and $60 million could disappear from the local economy. Our local healthcare system, which depends on NIC-trained professionals, will also feel the strain.

The board majority didn’t fix the problem — they made it worse. Greg “Chaos” McKenzie and his allies continued dragging NIC into lawsuits and drama while ignoring the real issue: governance.

Accreditors have been clear — NIC needs strong governance to survive. The problem isn’t that these issues are impossible to fix; it’s that the board majority has refused to fix them.

Trustees Brad Corkill and Tarie Zimmerman have worked hard to right the ship, but McKenzie’s leadership blocked progress and fueled chaos.

And now, the KCRCC is backing McKenzie again, along with Angiletta and Lyons. Why should we trust they’ll lead NIC any differently? They’re endorsed by the same committee that created this mess. Voting for the same people and expecting different results at NIC is insanity.

But there’s hope. Rick Durbin, Mary Havercroft, and Eve Knudtsen, endorsed by Save NIC Now, are running to fix governance and get NIC back on track. They’re not here for political games — they’re here to save our college. These three candidates have deep ties to NIC and are committed to restoring its integrity and fiscal responsibility.

This election is critical. You can vote for all three — Durbin, Havercroft, and Knudtsen. They will bring responsible leadership to the board, restore accountability, and end the waste that’s crippled NIC. They are focused on the future of our college and community, not drama.

Rejecting the KCRCC’s “highly rated & vetted” candidates — who’ve wasted your tax dollars — will be a moment of real change. We have a choice: continue the chaos and risk losing NIC, or elect leaders who will end the waste and bring the college back from the brink.

We can’t afford more of the same. Let’s save NIC, stop the waste, and secure a future we can be proud of. Vote for Durbin, Havercroft, and Knudtsen, and let’s move NIC forward.

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Christa Hazel is an alum of North Idaho College and former ASNIC president 1993-1994.