To Endorse or Not
That is the question the KCDCC has attempted to address before the fast-approaching May 18 nonpartisan election is over.
As I have said before, the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) already issued its approved list of partisan candidates for the May 18 Election. Each person on their list has been scrutinized not for their qualifications but for their loyalty to the KCRCC partisan ideology.
Knowing that these off-year elections are nonpartisan by law, you would think that both parties would respect that. However, that is not the case. So, the question is what should we do under these circumstances? Just because the opposing party disregards the law, does that give us license to do the same? We say no. Otherwise, if we publicly endorse candidates in nonpartisan elections, we are only lending strength to the KCRCC’s extra-legal behavior.
Fortunately, there are prominent Republicans who agree that the KCRCC is overstepping. In fact, some have publicly rebuked the KCRCC for their behavior. We hope that others will do the same. We appreciate their candor and willingness to give voice to the principle of nonpartisan elections.
Defending Nonpartisanship
For months, your Democratic Executive Committee has worked to provide the information you need to make informed decisions, while adhering to the nonpartisan integrity of this election. For instance, our Candidate Recruitment and Support Committee studied each candidates’ qualifications in depth. Yet, we steadfastly refuse to publish our findings. No matter how carefully worded, the attachment of our “D” name, would be considered an endorsement and thus a violation of the principle of nonpartisanship.
The Stakes
We realize this hands-off approach involves risk. For example, if nonpartisan candidates fail to win seats on the Coeur d’Alene Library District Board, our community library could be forced to enact policies that would censor its book collection. The library is not the only public institution at risk. Partisan candidates for the Kootenai Health District’s Advisory Board could force the hospital administration to restrict some services. This would mean that some patients would need to be referred to hospitals outside the health district. Cuts in services would also make it harder to recruit quality medical professionals to augment an already overburdened staff.
Plan to Vote
Together with disaffected Republicans, Democratic votes could prove decisive in this election. All this points to the importance of getting out the vote.
Here is how to get the information you need to make an informed decision, and act on that decision:
- Attend the May 10 KCDCC meeting on Zoom to learn all you need know about candidates.
- Make a plan and vote in the May 18 Election!
- Vote Early at the Election Office now through May 14 (Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm)
- Request an Absentee Ballot (Must be submitted by 5pm on May 7)
- Check Your Voting Record (Registration, Absentee Ballot Status, Polling Place)
- Find out more about the May 18 Election
- Inform your friends and neighbors.
Thanks for being a Democrat.
