Several people have asked why the Republicans have turned so many local elections into political dog fights. The answer is simple: It is a political power grab to control an agenda. This agenda will not provide a greater good for a greater number. This agenda is concerned with power over agencies and control of those agencies’ responsibilities.

Harold D.Lasswell, a political scientist and author of many books, once wrote, ”Politics is the process by which we determine who gets what, when and how.” That means political power. Those people running for previously non-partisan offices declared Republicans are going to be responsible to the Reagan Republicans who are working to get them elected and not to the parents, students, teachers and tax payers of Kootenai County.

Think this situation through, folks. If Republican is the first line of a campaign yard sign, then that must be the most important part of that candidate’s agenda. That implies that our school boards and hospital board could become political battle grounds rather than the usual public policy setting arenas for which they were intended.

I, therefore, will be voting for those candidates running for these public positions who do NOT push their political party over the importance of the position, and I hope you will also. I want people on the school boards and the hospital board who are concerned with the benefit of all of our students and all of our sick and injured and not beholden to a political party. So please vote for Tom Hearn, Christa Hazel, Dave Eubanks, Liese Razzeto and Dr. Neil Nemec.

LARRY M.BELMONT

Coeur d’Alene