COEUR d’ALENE — Kootenai County Commissioner Leslie Duncan announced her candidacy for North Idaho College Trustee Zone 5. 

Duncan, who is running for reelection to her seat on the Board of County Commissioners, confirmed she seeks a spot on the NIC board in addition to her current elected position. 

“Our community deserves a college that reflects our values and commitment to excellence,” Duncan said in a news release. “North Idaho College has faced challenges, but together, we can ensure it emerges stronger and more resilient. I am committed to responsible governance, transparency and collaboration with all stakeholders to keep NIC on a path of success.” 

In a news release, Duncan said she “understands the importance of accreditation to NIC’s future and is dedicated to addressing the current issues head-on.” 

She said she believes working collaboratively with faculty, students and community members will enable NIC to overcome the challenges facing the institution and continue to provide quality education for generations to come. 

Duncan said her platform is centered on implementing best practices for board governance, prioritizing compliance with accrediting bodies, enhancing programs and partnerships that benefit students and the community and managing resources wisely to sustain and grow NIC’s offerings. 

She said she’s considered throwing her hat into the ring for about a month and said Marc Eberlein rejoining the BOCC factored into her decision. Eberlein was a commissioner from 2014 to 2018 and is running unopposed to retake the District 1 seat in November. 

“Because he’s already been a commissioner, that’s going to free up a lot of time,” Duncan said Monday. 

Three positions on NIC’s five-person board are up for election in November. The Zone 5 seat for which Duncan is running is currently occupied by Mike Waggoner. Zones 3 and 4, occupied by Todd Banducci and Greg McKenzie, are also up for grabs.