Mark Sauter is a Democrat in disguise

The recent saga of the fire levy reveals Mark Sauter's true character and alignment. He is basically a Democrat with California values.

Just last spring, taxpayers rejected, by a 70% vote, an initiative to consolidate Northside, Westside and Sagle fire districts and dramatically Increase the fire levy assessment. Fire taxes would’ve been increased 200%, 139% and 40% in the respective districts.

This whole effort was led by ex-California fire chief Jeff Armstrong and supported avidly by 30 year ex-California fire chief Mark Sauter. Sauter’s sympathies are with all unions, increased wages, bigger pensions, consolidation of power and bigger government.

The fire department has functioned just fine over many years with adequate taxpayer and community support.

None of the data suggested we were in dire peril from local forest fires. Idaho manages its forests very well. It is California and surrounding liberal states that make a mess of things.

But if you listened to Mark Sauter and his pals who relentlessly fabricated and disseminated hypotheticals of houses burning down and firetrucks not arriving in time, one might’ve been fooled.

This is a fundamental problem with Mark Sauter and why he should be disqualified from office. He simply doesn’t tell the truth. He manipulates facts shamelessly.

The fire levy saga is just one example. He also notoriously misrepresents his entire voting record.

Mark Sauter may have been in Idaho for a while, but he hasn’t shed his California support of DEI, abortion, transgender athletes, bloated budgets and high taxes.

He is no Idahoan, no Republican and no conservative.

RICHARD NEEL

Samuels