Bradshaw Eliminates Representative Govt in Bonner County
by Shari Dovale
Bonner County Commission (BOCC) Chairman Steven Bradshaw never fails to show everyone his contempt for the public. He reinforced this malice during the July 18th Bonner County business meeting in Sandpoint.
For the past several weeks, Bradshaw has repeatedly stated that he has unilaterally decided that he will no longer allow public comment. He claims that as Chairman he can arbitrarily make these decisions and he answers to no one.
He has whined that the public cannot be nice to him and therefore he will not allow anyone to speak. He has somehow forgotten all the nastiness he has thrown at the community, both in and out of these official meetings.
At various times over the past months he has called his constituents reprobates, bacteria, stupid and lame, demanded they be jailed if he doesn’t like their comments, called public comment in general debauchery and foolishness, yelled obscenities during meetings, told taxpayers to “Kiss his A**,” and recently he demanded the police be called to clear a room so no one could have a discussion without him being present.
Additionally, he has treated the only female commissioner with a level of disrespect that should have the “Me Too” movement rising in righteous rage. He has called her a liar in public meetings, demanded that her microphone be muted so she could not speak during meetings, literally finger points to her and tells the public to blame her for the problems, and has also called her a “witch.”
Bradshaw has pretended that this is something new to him, as in all of a sudden he has to slam the hammer down on public comment, yet the truth shows that he has been trying to stop all public comment since almost the first meeting he chaired.
This is ongoing drama that these men immerse themselves in at every meeting. The public is tired of it and it needs to stop.
The most recent debacle he chose to lead was Tuesday, July 18th, in which the agenda item put forth by Commissioner Williams read:
Action Item: Discussion/Decision Regarding holding Commissioner Community Chat Hour from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday Mornings
This request was made by the community since Bradshaw had declared he would not allow public comment and would recess the meetings each week until 10am. The Community chat is currently from 8am to 9am, with Commissioner Williams hosting guest speakers with whom the public can interact.
Bradshaw, again, doubled-down against the public and refused to allow it. He went so far as to shut down a vote from Commissioner Williams.
Bradshaw has shown the unsaid part in full: They do not need to allow Commissioner Williams a vote as they can do whatever they want between the 2 men on the board.
He tried to mute her at a previous meeting. These men have bullied her out of the room at prior meetings, and mocked her for leaving. Now they just ignore her vote and say they do not need it.
This is my representative. She is the Commissioner over District 2, in which I live. I am expected to let a representative government work and give her my voice and my vote, but Bradshaw has established that I, along with one third of the county, will not be allowed this representation.
