Elected officials in Kootenai County have been asked to voluntarily submit basic financial disclosures to alert citizens to potential areas where conflicts of interest might arise.

The following politicians are doing their part to promote transparency despite an Idaho House committee’s refusal to require elected officials to publicly list their financial interests. Idaho and Michigan are the only two states in the U.S. that do not require this minimal disclosure.

The Press will continue to publish voluntary financial disclosures from elected officials as they’re submitted. All elected holders of city, county and state offices from Kootenai County are encouraged to follow the format below, emailing their information to Editor Mike Patrick: mpatrick@cdapress.com

JOHN F. AUSTIN

Commissioner, Eastside Highway District

Employment: Semi-Retired

Entities Paying Me Over $5,000 Per Year:

Eastside Highway District (Commissioner)

Austin Consulting (Owner): Municipal Accounting and Financial Consulting

PERSI (Retirement - Kootenai County and City of Coeur d’Alene)

Social Security Administration

Spouse: Denise Haskin Austin, Retired Small Business Owner

•••

TOM HEARN

Member, Coeur d’Alene School Board

Employer: Retired

Entities paying $5,000 or more annually:

Social Security

401(k)

Persi

Boards: Coeur d’Alene School District Board of Trustees

Spouse: Kathy Hearn, Hand Me Downs

•••

LINDA WILHELM

President, Post Falls City Council

I am a self-employed Real Estate Broker. My license is at Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty. I work in re-sale residential and commercial real estate. I do not work for builders or developers as part of my real estate business. My only real estate holding in this state is my primary residence.

The only entity that has paid me over $5,000 a year is the city of Post Falls where I serve as City Council president.

I represent the city of Post Falls at the mayor’s request, as a board member of Jobs Plus.

Spouse: none

•••

DAN ENGLISH

Member, Coeur d’Alene City Council

Employer(s)/Job Title:

City of Coeur d’Alene, Councilmember

Area Agency on Aging, a program of North Idaho College, Director

Entities with ownership or officer status: Tote-a-Vote, Inc.

Sources of income over $5,000: City of Coeur d’Alene, AAA/North Idaho College, Public Employees Retirement System of Idaho, & U.S. Social Security Administration

Other Boards/Advisory positions: ignite cda, Idaho Association of Area Agencies on Aging (I4A), liaison to Coeur d’Alene Parking Commission

Spouse Employer/Occupation: Cory Jane English, Valley Hospital, Licensed Physical Therapist

•••

LEN CROSBY

Treasurer, Post Falls Urban Renewal Board

Editor’s note: The Press has requested voluntary financial disclosures from urban renewal agency board members even though they are appointed rather than elected positions (and they are unpaid, as well). Mr. Crosby notes that Post Falls URA board members “make a much more in-depth annual disclosure to the Mayor and City Council where we detail any land that we own in or adjacent to any Urban Renewal District, any business dealings we have with any proponent of any development within an Urban Renewal District, and related matters covering any relationships which might post a conflict. [The public] may review these annual disclosures, which were recently updated for 2018, at the Post Falls Urban Renewal Office.

Primary Employer and Job Title: Community 1st Bank, Vice President

Entities Paying $5,000 or more:

Financial and Real Estate Consulting, LLC – Managing member

Veterans Administration – VA Disability and health care benefits

Boards: Idaho Bond Bank Authority (appointed by Gov. Otter); Idaho Credit Rating Enhancement Committee (appointed by Gov. Otter); American Legion, Post 154 (Finance Officer and Legislative Officer), Post Falls Veterans Commission; Military Order of the Purple Heart (Chapter organizer); Kootenai Bridge Academy (Charter School); Boys and Girls Club of Kootenai County; Post Falls Urban Renewal Board (Treasurer); Kootenai Electric Trust (Chair).

Spouse: Mary Crosby – Benjamin News Group

•••

STEVE MATHESON

Treasurer, Kootenai County

Employer: Kootenai County

Entities Owned: Steven Douglas LLC

Entities paying $5,000 or more: Kootenai County and Steven Douglas LLC

Boards: None

Spouse: Jeanne Matheson, CDA school district substitute teacher