It was my honor to serve, for more than three years, as the director of technology for the county under the very capable chairmanship of Cary Kelly. I planned to serve the new board as well when Dan McDonald came on board in January 2017. However, after a few short weeks of working with Dan, I resigned because I observed an arrogant, condescending bully who intimidated the staff and citizens alike. His extremist political agenda coupled with his “my way or the highway” attitude was in stark contrast to the previous commissioners. Now the county staff, my unfortunate former colleagues, work under a blanket of fear fueled by Dan’s intolerance. And they can’t speak up because they will be intimidated or fired.

It is even more disconcerting for me is to observe how Dan co-opted the authority of the other two honorable commissioners. They were not able to express their opinions nor represent their constituents appropriately because of Dan’s domineering and overwhelming desire to control. This is not democracy; it’s autocracy. Bonner County deserves so much better from their commissioners.

As a registered Republican and a fifth-generation Idahoan, I hope my fellow Republicans as well as all independent and Democrat colleagues join me in voting for Steve Lockwood. I know Steve has the administrative, financial, technological and human resource management skills coupled with years of untiring public service. His collaborative and cooperative personality will restore dignity, civility, reason and democracy to Bonner County government. He is “right for Bonner County.”

BILL HARP

Sandpoint