SANDPOINT — After a four-hour session of public interviews, Bonner County Commissioners have selected six individuals to recommend for appointment to the county's planning and zoning commissions. Official appointments will be voted on during a Sept. 23 business meeting. 

Commissioners will vote to appoint Brendan Mooney, Dave Bowman and Larry Madoski to serve on the planning commission for a three-year term. Resolutions will further be drafted to appoint Michelle Johnson to serve a one-year term on the zoning commission, and Colton Boyles and Joe Mauk to serve on the zoning commission for a three-year term. All terms will begin Oct. 1.  

Public interviews for the boards took place Monday, where county commissioners asked a series of six questions to nine interviewees. The interviews were conducted in groups, with two interviewing for the planning commission, two interviewing for either the planning or zoning commission and five interviewing for the zoning commission.  

Questions focused on knowledge of the volunteer commissions, potential biases and ethical decision making.  

The process was structured differently than years prior, with interviews conducted in a public setting for the community to observe. This comes after an Aug. 26 decision after community members expressed strong support for the interview style with hopes to prevent potential “handshake” or “backdoor deals” and allow individuals to see how the interview process worked. 

County commissioners will vote separately on each individual recommended for appointment at the Sept. 23 business meeting.  

About the recommended candidates:

Planning commission candidates 

Brendan Mooney, a Sagle resident, has lived in Bonner County since 2021 and works as an IT manager. With origins in Washington and Virginia, Mooney applied to sit on either the planning or zoning board because he “enjoys the area” and “wants to make it safe.” Mooney further said that Idaho is a special place, especially Bonner County, and he hopes to keep it that way.  

Dave Bowman, a Bonner County resident since 2020, is a founding member of advocacy group Keep Bonner County Rural. Originally from the Seattle area, Bowman said during his interview that he has been “dragged into land use issues shortly after arriving” in Bonner County. Bowman applied for a planning board position because he “feels he can contribute and really give back to the community” along with reducing conflict between the rights of property owners.  

Larry Madoski, originally from Northern California, has been a Bonner County resident for four years. Madoski has a background in the fire service and business and mortgage real estate. Madoski said that he’s done “a lot of comprehensive plan changes” in his profession. He applied for either the planning or zoning board because he saw an opportunity to use his skills.  

Zoning Commission candidates  

Michelle Johnson, a Cocolalla resident, shared during the interview process that she applied for the zoning commission to “be a part of the solution, to restore the community’s trust” in the planning and zoning commissioners. Johnson said that she wants to help improve the zoning process.  

Joe Mauk, a Bonner County resident for the past five years, said that he wants to help the zoning commission “do better than what it’s been doing.” In a short introduction of himself, Mauk said that he wants to put an end to spot zoning and other similar acts.  

Colton Boyles has a background as a lawyer. Boyles said during the interview process that he applied for the zoning commission because he didn’t “want a political activist wielding the sword of government.” He further said that he wants someone in the commission that will be levelheaded, logical and calm when applying zoning criteria.