The Bully Boy of Bonner County
by Shari Dovale and Bret Roush
It has been hard enough on the residents of Bonner County since the installation of the new Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). We have had to endure a grueling few months of growing pains to try to get a Board that can work together.
Commissioner Luke Omodt has raised his self-appreciation to a new level, as he no longer seems to hide his disdain for his colleagues and the people he represents. Omodt has repeatedly insinuated that, as a County Commissioner, he stands above all in the county and has no accountability for his actions. Others must defer to him.
This attitude is beginning to catch up to him, however, as events at a recent meeting of the Bonner County Fair Board (FB) have shown.
The Fair board has had their own problems in recent months. They are still dealing with fallout from the unexpected death of their manager, as well as the reorganization of the board, and the well publicized controversies over the proposed RV park.
The 2 men on the BOCC had dug in their heels over their insistence to place the RV park on land that has been designated for a future Justice Center, instead of on Fairground designated property, the public outcry notwithstanding. It was only right and equitable that the decisions be given back to the FB and they be allowed to do their jobs in progressing with this grant-funded project.
A commissioner from the previous BOCC had attempted to install himself as a “liaison” to the Fair Board and oversee everything they did. This was not in accordance to State Law and did not sit well with the people involved. Luke Omodt has, in all his arrogance, attempted to do the same thing.
Prior to a scheduled meeting, members of the FB asked the Commissioners to back off of their meetings and let them do their jobs. They do not want, nor do they need, a commissioner looking over their shoulders and telling them how to get things done. They are volunteers and take an incredible amount of pride in what they do for the community.
Omodt responded by sending an email to the members which included the following (emphasis added):
I will be in attendance this evening as the BOCC liaison. It is not the decision of the Fair Board to dictate policy to the Bonner County Board of Commissioners .As there is now a conflict of interest that has been created by current events between the Bonner County Fair Board and the Bonner County Board of Commissioners, the office of Bonner County’s Prosecuting Attorney will not be able to represent the Fair Board in any capacity until this is resolved.
It is clear why the FB members took this memo as threatening and felt intimidated by the sitting Commissioner. With this in mind, the members contacted the Sheriff’s Office and asked for their assistance. Deputies were sent over to insure the peace.
Commissioner Omodt took bizarre offense to the deputies being in attendance due to his email, and he addressed this at later BOCC meeting.
Citing events that were not even in Idaho, Omodt questioned the allocation of resources by the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office. Due to his inexperience and ignorance, Omodt clearly did not understand that there were no citizens put in danger due to these deputies responding to a call by the Fair Board.
Additionally, Omodt appeared to suggest that no officers should ever be called in advance of an event, as the negative incident must commence before action can be taken. (We have heard this used from Liberal talking points, generally in conjunction with “mostly peaceful” protests.)
It seems very disingenuous of Commissioner Omodt that he should suggest that he, in his capacity as a county commissioner, should be allowed to attend all Fair board meetings regardless of his actions, yet he wanted to trespass citizens from his BOCC meetings just for exercising their 1st amendment rights.
Sheriff Daryl Wheeler responded to the accusations in support of his Deputies, including reading from a letter which included the following:
I would like to document this for last evening’s meeting as official notice. I do this because of a pattern of behavior presented by Luke Omodt, Commissioner that is becoming ever so more concerning to many.
The Fair Board members were truly appreciative of the Sheriff providing law enforcement for the meeting and said they were so relieved. They all echoed the same sentiment. In addition, during executive session, they all voiced concerns and concurred that they find Luke Omodt to be a bully attempting to intimidate them by his behaviors. This is not the first time this has been shared. These behaviors are described as arrogance, staring, talking over others, body posture that protrays dominance, and smirking. At one point, Mr. Omodt also stood up at the meeting which appeared as disruptive to the discussion and started videotaping the Fair Board. This behavior exacerbated what was already an unconformtable and hostile atmosphere created by Comissioner Omodt.
I had a note from Jody Russell this morning saying “Them (SO) being there allowed me to settle down a bit. Prior to seeing them I truly was a wreck. The officers were very professional and held strong with him (Omodt) trying to strong arm them. Luke presence and arrogance and in their face was like none I have seen from someone.”
Furthermore, Chairman Steve Bradshaw unexpectedly expressed support for the Sheriff’s Department, “And we don’t want a sheriffs department that doesn’t respond when they get a call.”
Omodt had stated that he attended the Fair board meeting to ask the members to delay a planned memo to the BOCC concerning the placement of the proposed RV campground expansion. This was also commented on by the public, as he was clear that he did not want to wait for an advisory ballot question for the public to weigh in on the issue. It is quite the slap-in-the-face to the public when Luke wants others to wait for him to make progress on his agenda, yet not allow the public to even weigh in through the voting process.
Commissioner Omodt does not understand the true meaning of being a public servant. The public and his colleagues are intelligent people. They are not children in school, with whom he is used to dealing. He must stand up and be accountable to the public, respond to their questions and show that he is worthy of the position.
His mentor may have done him quite the disservice in teaching him to act like the Wannabe-King of Bonner County. He just comes off as another schoolyard bully.
