Issue may open WBCSD board seat

PRIEST RIVER — After running unopposed in the West Bonner County School Board trustee election, Todd Sudick may not be eligible for the Zone 5 position he was set to take on in January.

The issue surrounds his address that he provided for his candidacy, which landed in Zone 5 per the map the county had on file. However, the map the district and State Board of Education had on file differed from the county’s, and was affirmed in October when a judge threw out the county’s complaint for declaratory relief. The approved district map puts Sudick’s address within Zone 2.

“This has been a very frustrating process for us, the county and obviously for Todd … Todd would be a great addition to the board,” said Drew McLain, WBCSD board vice-chair, during the Dec. 18 meeting. “But right now he is in the wrong zone according to our map, the state map.”

Board Chair Sandy Brower said the other “frustrating” thing is that the district, which already struggles with funding, is spending money on legal fees. In addition, she said, the tax dollars that are going to the county are being used as well.

“As taxpayers, we should be furious that this has gone on as long as it has,” Brower said.

The board approved a resolution during last week’s meeting that if documentation verifying residency within Zone 5 is not received by Jan. 1, the board will be required to declare a vacancy during its Jan. 15 meeting.

If the seat is vacated, per state code it will be opened up for 90 days to anyone within the zone who is interested. If nobody within the zone comes forward in that time, it will be opened up to every zone within the district.

“At that point, anybody from any zone could be appointed by the board,” said WBCSD board clerk and business manager Jennifer Anselmo.

If nobody is appointed within 120 days, the appointment of a trustee would fall to the county commissioners.

Sudick, a former county commissioner, was the sole candidate for the seat currently held by Samuel “Ranger Rick” Hall, who opted to not run for re-election. Also in the Nov. election, Zone 3 candidate Troy Reinbold defeated incumbent Bruce Hollett, and Zone 1 incumbent Margaret Hall defeated her opponent Lesa Souza. Hall and Reinbold will be sworn in at the Jan. 15 meeting.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.