SANDPOINT — A crowded field of candidates to fill a vacancy on the Bonner County commission is expected to narrow today.

Bonner County Republican Central Committee officials meet today to nominate successors to fill District 1 Commissioner Joyce Broadsword’s seat on the board. Broadsword announced last month that she is stepping down to take a job as a regional director for the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare.

“We have seven qualified candidates,” said Mary Jo Ambrosiani, chairwoman of the Bonner County GOP Central Committee.

They include:

• Glen Bailey — Bailey, a Cocolalla resident, is a court bailiff in Sandpoint. Prior to moving here, he served in the Montana Air National Guard and the U.S. Air Force in Alaska.

• Allen Banks — Banks, a Careywood resident, is an educator, medical researcher and contract manufacturer who has been active in the Bonner County GOP for two decades.

• Dennis Engelhardt — Engelhardt is a Vietnam veteran and retired law enforcement administrator who ran against Broadsword in 2010, when she was a state senator.

• Orin LaRitchie — LaRitchie, also of Careywood, is a former member of Northern Lights Energy’s board of directors with a background in computer programming and business.

• Tony McDermott — McDermott, a Sagle resident, has served as the Panhandle representative on the Idaho Fish & Game Commission since 2005.

• Marcia Phillips — Phillips served on the county commission from 2003 to 2007, when she was edged out of office by Cornel Rasor. She currently works at First American Title Co. in Sandpoint.

• Cornel Rasor — Rasor served on the county commission from 2009 to 2013, when he lost the GOP nomination to Broadsword in the primary. He manages the Army Surplus store in Sandpoint.

Republican precinct committeemen and women from throughout the county will nominate and vote on candidates today during a special meeting at the Panhandle Health District Offices.

It starts at 7 p.m. The public is invited to observe the proceedings, although only precinct committeemen and women can vote, and seating is expected to be limited.

The voting will be conducted until the top three candidates emerge, according Ambrosiani.

The list, ranked in order of preference, will then be forwarded to Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, who will appoint Broadsword’s successor.