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Residents urge recusal of county clerk after public endorsement appears at commissioners' meeting
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Summary
Multiple residents at the Bonner County meeting raised concerns that the county clerk publicly endorsed a candidate while officiating upcoming elections and asked that he recuse himself; the clerk and county officials responded that the elections office is audited and that poll watchers may be present during counts.
During the public‑comment portion of the Bonner County Board of Commissioners meeting on April 14, several residents said the county clerk’s visible endorsement of a candidate created an appearance of impropriety and asked the clerk to recuse himself from election administration.
Spencer Hutchings, a Bonner County resident and candidate for county clerk, said: "I think to keep the election above board ... I think that he should recuse himself from this current election." Hutchings said the incumbent clerk and the person he is endorsing were seated next to each other during the meeting and that the optics were concerning.
Dan Welly, an online commenter, echoed that concern: "The appearance of impropriety reflects on [the clerk's] ability to appear fair in the way he handles the election matters... I have to agree with Spencer, regarding him recusing himself from managing this upcoming election." Welly called on the board to inspect whether the clerk should participate in the mechanics of the upcoming election.
County Clerk (for the record) responded that the elections office has been audited and operates without political bias: "We are, politically blind during elections. We've done a perfect job," and said the office is open to candidates appointing poll watchers to observe counts.
Board members and others in public comment emphasized that while appearances matter, statutory and administrative safeguards are available: candidates may assign poll watchers and audits have found the office's procedures to be materially correct. The board reminded attendees that public comment should be directed to the board about county business and not personal attacks.
The board did not take action on recusals or election administration at the meeting; members said concerns could be addressed through poll watchers, audits or other formal procedures if a candidate or member of the public requests them.
