OPINION: Setting the record straight on North Idaho Republicans

For years, and most recently in last Friday’s ‘Republican Factions’ opinion piece, Brent Regan has repeated false claims about North Idaho Republicans (NIR). He knows the truth, yet he continues to push a narrative that does not match the facts. He repeats the same misinformation over and over, hoping that people will accept it as reality. It’s time to set the record straight.

1. The RNC “Cease & Desist” Letter

Regan loves to tell people that the Republican National Committee (RNC) ordered NIR to stop calling ourselves “North Idaho Republicans.” That is not only wrong, but also absurd. The RNC’s June 2, 2023, letter addressed one issue and one issue only: the use of the RNC’s federally trademarked ‘Official Elephant Logo’ on our website. The letter did not question NIR’s name, mission, legitimacy or identity as Republicans. Nor did it accuse NIR of using “counterfeited Official Republican Party materials.” Once notified, the logo was changed. The RNC letter simply does not say what Regan insists it says.

2. The “Secretary of State Fine”

Regan also claims NIR was “fined for lying” and intentionally violating campaign-finance laws. Again, false. When NIR formed in 2022, we built an informational website costing under $100, well below Sunshine Law reporting thresholds. We confirmed with the Secretary of State’s Office that this was acceptable. Weeks later, NIR ran a paid newspaper ad encouraging visits to the website, but the paid ad did not endorse or oppose any candidates. Under the law, that should have been exempt from reporting.

After Regan filed a complaint, the Secretary of State’s Office contradicted its earlier guidance and decided NIR should have filed as a PAC since the website endorsed candidates. As a brand-new organization, NIR had not yet created a PAC. NIR received a fine, paid it promptly and immediately created the NIR PAC, which still exists today.

There was no deception, no “lying,” no intent to mislead, just an inconsistent interpretation of a vague statute. It is also noteworthy that the fine came from the office of former Secretary of State Lawerence Denney, a close Regan ally.

3. A Double Standard on Compliance Errors

It takes some nerve for Regan to continually harp on NIR’s one-time issue from 2022 while ignoring the recent violations committed by groups he is associated with. Within the last year, both the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) and the Idaho Freedom Caucus (both considered PACs), were fined $1,000 each by the Secretary of State.

Sitting legislator and active candidate Elaine Price was treasurer for both groups while simultaneously benefiting from their spending. She signed checks to herself, something prohibited under Idaho’s independent-expenditure rules. Those expenditures were authorized under Regan’s leadership.

The Idaho Freedom Caucus paid its fine immediately. The KCRCC (Brent Regan), however, spent months fighting the Secretary of State before Regan finally wrote a personal check to make the problem disappear without any trace of it being on the KCRCC’s reports.

4. Who Is NIR Really

NIR is made up of Republican voters, volunteers, public servants and community members who live and work here. Most are longtime Idaho Republicans. We are not “Democrat-aligned” or “dark-money funded.” Those claims are thrown around but never backed by evidence because there is none.

We operate openly, follow the law, and fix problems when they arise. That is what responsible organizations do. What is not responsible is the deliberate spread of lies to attack fellow Republicans. Our community deserves honesty, not political fiction.

We welcome debate. But it should be based on facts, not on whatever false storyline Regan hopes will stick. If Mr. Regan seeks the source of local Republican "factions," his Alinsky-style tactics offer the answer.

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Sandy Patano is a founding member of NIR and former vice-chair of Idaho Republican Party