Tommy LaPonsey pulled off an upset win over well-known Post Falls resident, and current Fire Commissioner, Pam Houser. The race came down to the last precinct counts, with LaPonsey pulling ahead by 214 votes at the end of a long election day.
“I ran because I felt this role was one in which I could serve our community with excellence. I ran for fire commissioner, not against my opponent. I presented my qualities, experience, and skill sets to the voters for them to decide who they wanted,” LaPonsey stated. “It is a great honor, and privilege, to have earned the community’s trust, and support.”
Houser first gained her seat on the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue (KCFR) Board of Commissioners by appointment, and she retained her appointed seat in 2019 by default, when no challenger filed to run in the election. The race for KCFR Sub-District 4 seat was the only contested fire commissioner race in Kootenai County, with 15 separate fire commissioner races won by default, and one write-in race. A write-in race occurs when no candidate has filed to run by the deadline. All election dates, including filing deadlines, can be found on the Idaho Secretary of State’s election calendar.
LaPonsey moved to Coeur d’Alene in 2014, after a medical injury forced an early retirement from his position as Fire Captain Paramedic with the Santa Monica Fire Department. Laponsey says he has spent his life in service to his community, including over 30 years as a frontline first responder. He holds an impressive resume, having worked in nearly every role available to firefighters, including paramedic, hazardous materials specialist, rescue systems specialist, and disaster preparation instructor, as well as being aircraft rescue certified. He is also a certified fire officer, chief officer, fire boss in wildland firefighting, strike team leader, and first aid CPR instructor.
During his career, firefighters who wished to promote regularly asked to work under LaPonsey’s leadership. He had a unbeaten record of successful promotions under his tutelage, until one firefighter failed to promote after an interview, and admitted, “I screwed up, and didn’t do what Tommy-Boy trained me to do.”
LaPonsey brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role of fire commissioner. He is currently employed as a Community Resource Officer with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, and will begin his four-year term as a KCFR Fire Commissioner in January 2024.
