This election could decide whether North Idaho College (NIC) remains under local governance or shifts control to Boise. Although those in power might not openly admit it, this is the underlying issue.
Guest Opinion by Mike Waggoner, Chairman of North Idaho College Board of Trustees
With over a decade of involvement in politics, I’ve gathered insights into election dynamics that I believe should be highlighted for public awareness, particularly in North Idaho:
- Behind the Scenes Influence: Elections often involve “king makers,” individuals, or entities who fund “front men” known as candidates. These king makers expect political favors or policy influence in return for their financial support, and their objectives are usually kept confidential from the electorate.
- The Hidden Agenda: The voting process is designed so that the public supports these front men without recognizing the financial backers or understanding their underlying motives. The financial contributions I’ve mentioned are essentially investments in realizing the king makers’ undisclosed goals.
In our local political landscape, “king makers” fall into two main categories:
- Media: This involves wealthy individuals acquiring media outlets which allows them to disseminate their political messages without revealing the financial backing. This tactic is frequently employed to shape public opinion subtly.
- Wealthy Donors: Wealthy individuals also fund campaigns either directly or through a political action committee (PAC). While there’s some transparency through financial disclosures like those on the Idaho Secretary of State website, tracing the full extent of these contributions can be challenging. For instance, one could look into the financial reports of the Save NIC Now PAC involved with the North Idaho College Board of Trustees election. Normally, such elections might not exceed a $10,000 budget, but this PAC alone has raised over $112,000 which indicates deeper interests at play.
Top Contributors to Save NIC Now PAC (as of October 29, 2024):
- Michael White (aka Mike White – Car Dealership Owner)
- Doug Parker (Car Dealership Owner)
- Glacier Partners, LLC (Commercial Real Estate Firm, Stephen Meyer listed as the agent for the LLC)
- Coeur d’Alene Tribe
- Stephen Meyer (aka Steve Meyer – Real Estate Entrepreneur)
- Karl Young (aka John Young – Construction Entrepreneur)
- D Haagenson (aka Dean Haagenson – Construction Executive)
- Bret Dirks (Medical Doctor affiliated with Kootenai Health)
- Chad Murray (Kootenai Health Foundation)
- Daniel Gookin (aka Dan Gookin – Coeur d’Alene City Councilman
Top Receivers of Monies (from Idaho SOS as of October 30, 2024):
- Lamar Advertising
- Engage Consulting
- Direct Mail Enterprises
- Hagadone Media
- Eve Knudtsen (Candidate for NIC Trustee)
- Mary Havercroft (Candidate for NIC Trustee)
- James Durbin Jr. (Candidate for NIC Trustee)
Wealthy Interests Aim to Override Local Governance
From the financial report, it’s clear the Save NIC Now PAC has backed three candidates, with each candidate receiving an average direct support of approximately $9,494 when considering the PAC’s other expenditures. However, one candidate has garnered an additional $29,420 from other sources, potentially bringing her total campaign support close to $40,000.
In contrast, the three candidates endorsed by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) have less than $10,000 each at their disposal, setting the stage for an interesting electoral contest.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting the long-term aspirations of certain local influencers or “king makers.” Their strategic objective appears to be transforming North Idaho College (NIC) into a four-year institution under the jurisdiction of the State Board of Education’s jurisdiction:
- In 2022, there was an attempt to integrate NIC with the University of Idaho and eliminate the locally elected trustees.
- In 2023, five bills were introduced in the Idaho House to appropriate NIC’s assets and shift it under the State Board of Education control, again sidelining the local trustees.
- In 2024, efforts shifted towards potentially merging NIC with Lewis and Clark State College, a move that would maintain the trustees, but restrict their authority and effectively hand control of the college to state appointees.
The consequence of such maneuvers would be a significant reduction in local voter influence over NIC, with control potentially passing to those with political clout at the state level who are capable of influencing appointments to state boards.
A Critical Election: Local Control or State Oversight for Our College?
To sum up, this election could decide whether NIC remains under local governance or shifts control to Boise. Although those in power might not openly admit it, this is the underlying issue. Remember, local control over the hospital was already relinquished after years of community funding. Will NIC face a similar fate?
The substantial financial investment in this election suggests a motive beyond the surface. On November 5, consider your vote carefully. Do you prefer candidates supported by Save NIC Now, backed by significant financial interests, or those endorsed by KCRCC who advocate for community control?
I recommend supporting the three KCRCC recommended candidates – Greg McKenzie, William Lyons, and Michael Angiletta – who are well-qualified and dedicated to maintaining local oversight. Electing all three is crucial for preserving local control. Choose wisely.
I’m sharing this information from a personal perspective to aid our community, not in my capacity as Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Edited: November 3, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. to correct the spelling of a person’s name.
Mike Waggoner has continued a family tradition of being involved in politics. His grandfather was a Canyon County representative in 1925. His family member (John Penn) signed the Declaration of Independence. Another family member (judge Edmund Pendleton) led a group of Virginians in meetings to design their new government in 1775. After using this design in Virginia it later evolved to become the “Virginia Plan” which was used to design the new US government under the US Constitution. He was President of the Virginia ratification convention for the US Constitution and assisted with the Bill of Rights.
