COEUR d'ALENE - Some of the county commission candidates are calling on the outgoing county commissioners to reverse their decision to terminate the county airport manager.

"I have been telling everyone that there is going to be some dirty tricks at the last minute in this race, and I think we just saw that happen," said Democratic county commission candidate Jerry Shriner.

Shriner, who is seeking the open District 2 seat, is running against Republican Dave Stewart. He thinks the way the outgoing commissioners handled the termination of Greg Delavan smacks of politics.

"The airport manager had a letter to the editor in (Wednesday's) paper endorsing our opponents," he said. "I'll bet you $10 Delavan is rehired right after the election.

"(Commissioner Dan)Green publicly supports Eberlein and Stewart, who support Delavan, but Green participates in Delavan's firing?" he said. "Tondee and Green get together and fire Delavan, and right away he has a letter to the editor endorsing (Marc) Eberlein and Stewart?"

Shriner said the whole thing doesn't add up, and he thinks the commissioners should rescind their decision and let the commissioners who will be elected on Tuesday resolve the issues with the airport.

He also thinks Green, whose term isn't up this election cycle, owes the taxpayers a better explanation of what is happening.

Shriner, who had a meeting with Commissioner Jai Nelson a couple of weeks ago, said Nelson told him Green is running the county behind her back.

He said Green also sits on the board of the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization, which was embroiled in controversy with Delavan.

"I think Green should be the one answering the questions," Shriner said. "But I don't suppose anyone knows when he is going to be back from vacation."

Democrat candidate Bruce Noble, who is running for District 1 commissioner against Republican Marc Eberlein, agrees with Shriner.

"It looks like someone got offered his job back," Noble said, referring to Delavan's endorsement of the Republican commissioner candidates.

Noble also believes the outgoing commissioners should reverse their decision to terminate Delavan, and let the newly elected commissioners sort the airport's problems - if there are any.

"I think the commission is remiss in making this decision this close to the end of their tenure," he said. "Since they haven't made the reason for their decision public, I have no way of knowing if it was justified or not.

"The Airport Advisory Board gives Delavan glowing reviews, so I am not sure this was a correct decision to make," Noble continued. "But it certainly was bad timing."

Eberlein said he has toured the airport and talked with Delavan about the issues the county is facing out there, but there have been no deals cut to earn his endorsement.

As far as the outgoing commissioners' actions, Eberlein said he isn't going to second-guess their decision.

"I am not a commissioner at this point in time," he said. "I don't have a say in this matter."

However, Eberlein did say he hopes the commissioners will consult with whoever is elected on Tuesday to ensure that the outgoing commissioners' actions are in line with the direction the new commissioners want to go.

Republican commission candidate David Stewart could not be reached for comment.