Kootenai County Democrats talk taking action during town hall event

POST FALLS — Former Democratic representatives Larry LaRocco and Richard Stallings have held eight town hall meetings in cities throughout Idaho over the past few weeks.

Sunday’s town hall, hosted by the Kootenai County Democrats at Red Lion Hotel Templin’s on The River, reportedly had the biggest turnout of their tour so far with close to 400 people.

Stallings represented Idaho’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House from 1985 to 1993, while LaRocco represented Idaho’s 1st Congressional District from 1991 to 1995.

Both emphasized that town hall meetings have long been an important way for representatives to hear from their constituents.

“People told us what they thought because they wanted us to listen,” LaRocco said. “It was our job to do the people’s work and represent the people of our district.”

The representatives shared their perspectives on the current state of politics in Boise as well as Washington, D.C., before opening the floor for questions and comments from the audience.

While some audience questions focused on matters like Social Security and the future of veterans’ programs under the Trump administration, many attendees wanted to know how they could take action — and whether the Kootenai County Democrats planned to take action themselves.

“I might be 70, but I’m not a snowflake,” one woman told the representatives from the audience. “I want to do something. We are being intimidated in a very red state.”

Stallings encouraged attendees to organize in much the same way as those who demonstrated for civil rights issues in the past.

“There’s been periods in this country when we’ve had to be a little noisy, a little persistent,” Stallings said. “We do this peacefully, within the constitution.”

“I’ve heard so many good ideas of what we can do here in Coeur d’Alene just while shaking hands today,” LaRocco said.

At least one demonstration is planned for the near future; Hands Off!, a national mobilization event, is planned for Saturday, April 5. 

Those planning to protest locally will be demonstrating on the corner of U.S. 95 and Appleway Avenue from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

As for a larger march, Kootenai County Democratic Chair Evan Koch has not ruled one out. 

"There's certainly a groundswell forming in that direction," Koch said.

    Stallings