OPINION: Democrats are leading real town halls

Dissent and disagreement have existed in politics since the beginning of time. The push and pull of ideas makes us better. Much like a kite, the American experiment doesn’t fly without resistance.  

We deserve elected leaders who know how to handle disagreement without resorting to violence, doxxing or name calling.

Unfortunately Kootenai County elected the wrong people, and now we are paying the price. The writing has been on the wall for many years. 

Democrats are better at handling disagreement.

Here’s the proof. 

While the Republican Party insulates itself inside an echo chamber and advises legislators to skip town halls altogether, Democrats are filling the void and doing it well. 

Coast to coast, you are seeing Democratic town halls everywhere. Idaho is no exception.

On Sunday, March 23, at 1 p.m. Democrats will host a town hall with former U.S. Representatives Larry La Rocco and Richard Stallings. Please watch our website and social media for an exciting venue announcement. 

Representatives La Rocco and Stallings represented Idaho in the mid-1990s when our state was more bipartisan.

Representatives La Rocco and Stallings will share their thoughts on what is going on in Washington, D.C., and why. They will even accept questions from the audience, giving voters a platform to share their concerns, discuss challenges and demand accountability from those in power.

Please let us know that you are coming at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/demstownhall. You can also submit your questions ahead of time at https://forms.gle/M8jV6Qm5CBBcFkxX9 or by visiting the pinned posts on our social media pages and website. 

We have a well-developed plan to include and encircle diverse voices. Participation is encouraged, passive recording is prohibited.  

That’s how a town hall should work. 

These town halls have already seen exceptional success in towns across southern Idaho. 

Why can Democrats hold inclusive town halls while Republicans can’t?

Because diverse opinions don’t scare us. In fact, they make us better.

Since 2020, the Kootenai County Democrats have hosted numerous town halls, symposiums, and candidate meet and greets. These events have attracted people from across the political spectrum — including well-known far right agitators. 

I won’t name them here, but if you’ve been around North Idaho politics you know who these people are. Their goal is defamation not dialogue.

Fortunately, groups like ours have held peaceful and productive events despite extremist shenanigans.

None of our events involved hired muscle or led to violence.

In October 2023, we hosted a remarkable meet and greet where candidates endorsed by the KCRCC joined candidates who were smeared by the KCRCC. Each candidate shared why they were running and took questions from the crowd. Candidates left with positive things to say. 

Here’s further proof. Between January and November 2024, Kootenai County Democratic candidates and volunteers knocked on over 10,000 doors. That is not a typo. 

Democrats met face-to-face with voters of diverse backgrounds — many of whom had never interacted with any candidate running for office. Sometimes, these voters didn’t agree with the Democratic platform. With every conversation, Democrats got to show people how proficiently we handle disagreement.

In 2022, the Kootenai County Democrats hosted a bipartisan symposium with speakers from across the political and ideological spectrum. This ticketed private event attracted more than 200 people. Nonetheless, during the panel discussion, a well-known right wing agitator snuck into the venue, hid behind a partition, and recorded the event in grainy audio — until he was discovered by event staff. 

Although encouraged to purchase a ticket, leave the recording equipment behind, and participate with the rest of the crowd — he declined. In fact, he ran away.

He then spliced and edited that audio into something that would generate controversy.

We responded with a pointed public statement and measures to protect the personal safety and information of our panelists. We did not post childish memes on our social media, making fun of the other side.

You have a choice for what type of leadership you want in Kootenai County moving forward.

Knowing how to sit in a room with someone who doesn’t agree with you is a prerequisite for any job in elected office. The hard truth is that Kootenai County elected some leaders who are inept at handling disagreement. 

People speaking up and being disruptive at town halls across Idaho has always existed no matter who is hosting the event. 

Democrats simply know how to handle it. 

Too late, voters are realizing what they signed up for. We all deserve elected leaders who know how to productively handle disagreement without violence, doxxing, or petulance.

Kootenai County deserves elected leaders who are committed to creating a more perfect union.

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Evan Koch is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.