SANDPOINT — Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler and state Rep. Heather Scott were conspicuously absent at Wednesday’s candidate forum hosted by the Sandpoint Reader.

Scott, a Blanchard Republican, has no opponent in the May 17 primary election, although her general election competitor, Kate McAlister did attend the forum in the Sandpoint High School auditorium. Wheeler’s challenger for the GOP nomination, Terry Ford, was also in attendance.

The absences of Wheeler and Scott went unexplained.

Candidates seeking local and state office were given a few minutes to introduce themselves before a moderator began asking questions raised by people in attendance or watching video of the forum which the Reader streamed on its website. Candidates in uncontested races were allowed to make introductory remarks, but were not part of the Q-and-A session.

Questions ranged from legislative voting records and campaign contributions to Bonner County employee morale, the Clagstone Meadows conservation easement, Planning & Zoning upheaval and leadership at the sheriff’s office.

Incumbent Sen. Shawn Keough, who has taken heat from supporters of her political rival, Glenn Rohrer, for not attending recent GOP Central Committee forums in Bonner County was in attendance, as was Rohrer, who seeks to wrest the GOP nod from Keough. Steve Tanner, who is running as a Democrat without primary opposition, also attended the forum to stump for the District 1 state senator post.

Incumbent Republican 1B Rep. Sage Dixon was also present. His challenger in the general election, Stephen Howlett, a Democrat running as a write-in candidate, was also present.

Ken Meyers, a Sagle Democrat seeking to unseat incumbent Republican District 7 Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, attended, but Nuxoll and another Republican challenger, Carl Crabtree, did not. Jessica Chilcott, a Sandpoint Democrat running for Republican Rep. Shannon McMillan’s was there to stump for her candidacy. McMillan and Priscilla Giddings, who is running for McMillan’s GOP nomination, did not attend the forum.

Incumbent District 2 Commissioner Todd Sudick, and his challenger for the GOP nod, Jeff Connolly, were there, as were District 3 commission candidates Lewie Rich and Dan McDonald, both of whom are Republicans.

See Friday’s Daily Bee for complete forum coverage.