COEUR d'ALENE - The North Idaho Political Action Committee announced its endorsements Monday for the May 20 Republican Primary election.

"As a group of independent-minded, conservative Republicans, NIPAC was formed to recruit and support rational, pragmatic candidates to serve in county and state public office who are committed to fiscal responsibility, limited government and free markets," the press release stated. "We look for candidates who will apply these principles to bring solutions to state and local problems as well as work cooperatively with other policy-makers."

According to the release, NIPAC wants to support candidates and elected officials who will uphold both the Idaho and U.S. Constitution without exception, and seek to encourage, not discourage, participation in our republican form of government.

"We are very concerned by planks in the Idaho Republican Party platform and candidates who advocate limiting participation, such as closing the Republican Primary and removing the public's right to vote for U.S. Senators," the release said.

Given the large number of candidates seeking office this season, the members of NIPAC felt it was crucial to fully engage and make endorsements in the primary.

NIPAC's board members include: Brad Corkill, Jim Addis, Katie Brodie, Dean Haagenson, Maggie Lyon, Ron Nilson, Sandy Patano, Jim Pierce, Jim Riley and Vaughn Ward.

Here are its picks:

Kootenai County

* Treasurer: Laurie Thomas

* Clerk: Don Pischner

* Commissioner: Todd Tondee*

* Assessor: Mike McDowell

State Legislature

* District 1

Senate: Shawn Keough

House Seat A: Steven Snedden

House Seat B: George Eskridge

* District 2

House Seat A: Fritz Wiedenhoff

House Seat B: Ed Morse

* District 3

Senate: Pat Whalen

House Seat A: Terry Werner

House Seat B: Greg Gfeller

* District 4

Senate: John Goedde

House Seat A: Luke Malek

House Seat B: Rick Currie

* District 7

House Seat A: Shauna Hillman

Statewide Offices

Governor: Butch Otter

Lt. Governor: Brad Little

Secretary of State: Phil McGrane

Attorney General: Lawrence Wasden

Controller: Brandon Woolf

Supreme Court: Joel Horton

*The NIPAC board debated extensively on the County Commissioner race between Todd Tondee, Marc Eberlein and Tim Herzog. While it has concerns about Commissioner Tondee and recent decisions made by the Board of Commissioners regarding the Unified Land Use Code, it decided that Tondee was the best choice of the candidates on the ballot.