COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — The North Idaho College (NIC) board of trustees plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the college.
This year voters will find six independent candidates on the ballot, with three backed by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) and three supported by North Idaho Republicans (NIR).
Typically, junior college board elections receive little attention, but this election is significant due to potential accreditation issues.
Kathleen Tillman, a KCRCC precinct committeeman who supports the candidates backed by the NIR, stated, “To be a non-accredited school, we’d lose students, we’d lose money.”
The KCRCC candidates include William Lyons, Greg McKenzie, and Michael Angiletta, while NIR candidates are Rick Durbin, Mary Havercroft, and Eve Knudtsen.
Tillman expressed concern over past inaction by the KCRCC regarding trustee appointments.
“I think a lot of us were asleep at the wheel, both with the KCRCC, who took over this group, and who ended up becoming trustees at the college,” said Tillman.
The current NIC board majority is KCRCC-backed, and its chairman Brent Regan, noted that candidates they are endorsing for the coming election were “I cannot speak as to why they were selected by the other members, but it was obvious to me that they were clearly the better choices,” said Brent Regan, Chairman of the KRCC.
Jack Riggs, co-founder of NIR, said “The college is on a rocky path. People don’t know that when they talk about loss of accreditation, which people hear about. What they’re really talking about is the college is on the brink of closing, depending on what happens in this election.”
4 News Now asked Riggs what values he sees in the candidates they support. “They’re trustworthy, they’re honest, high ethical standards. They are looking for the best interests of North Idaho College, the students, the staff.”
Even if the college retains accreditation, it may still face probation, highlighting the importance of the upcoming race.
Early voting in Kootenai County starts on October 15th and ends on November 1st. Election Day is on November 5th.
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