Panabaker remains upbeat despite defeat

As Kootenai County Commission Chairman Dick Panabaker prepares to leave office this week he hopes a little fun and laughter linger behind.

Perhaps his gift to the county after 10 years in office is a philosophy of lightness. That it’s OK to laugh – even if you are a government employee.

“Some people think those meetings need to be cut and dry – serious,” Panabaker said last week, leaning back in his chair to get enough wind for one of his trademark laughs that come deep from the gut. “Hell, you got to get people to loosen up and laugh. If you shut people up they are going to walk out of there mad and feel like they haven’t been well represented.”

Friday is Panabaker’s final day in office. He was defeated in the May Republican primary by Katie Brodie, a former Kootenai County Planning Commission chairwoman who works as a property manager for Idaho Forest Industries. Two other candidates were in the race.

Panabaker, 63, attributes his loss to painfully low voter turnout and Brodie’s record-breaking war chest of $26,380, which was nearly five times more than Panabaker had raised.

Waiting seven months to leave office has been difficult for Panabaker, who as a lame duck couldn’t get involved in too many new issues.

“You’ve been fired from your job but no one is throwing you out,” he said.

But his defeat didn’t stop him from unveiling a new plan for the county to buy up to 10,000 acres of the remaining Rathdrum Prairie to secure open space and protect the aquifer that is the sole source of drinking water for more than 400,000 people.

His idea is to use the same half-cent local sales tax now paying for the county’s new jail to pay for the land.

In November, 75 percent of the voters in the general election favored expanding the local-option sales tax to pay for big-ticket items other than jails. Currently the tax can only fund jails, and local lawmakers will ask the 2005 Idaho Legislature to amend the law so the money can be used for other projects, such as buying open space.

The advisory ballot also asked voters what types of projects Kootenai County should fund if the Legislature approves expanding the half-cent sales tax. The ballot listed two options – open space and a civic center.

Panabaker’s open space idea attracted 55 percent of the vote while the civic center option got 45 percent. Voters could mark both boxes if they wanted and the ballot didn’t provide space to write in other ideas.

Panabaker said he is willing to stay involved in the prairie plan but isn’t sure if the county will want his help.

“I certainly have the fire in my belly for it,” he said.

His overall plan is to take some time off, work on restoring his 1950 Nash, spend time at his Twin Lakes property and play with his 10 grandchildren.

“It was always a dream to have a summer off,” said Panabaker, who has been in elected office since 1988. “So that’s what I’m going to do.”

And depending on how he feels at the end of his break, the former Hayden mayor may run for the Idaho Legislature.

“We will just have to see,” Panabaker said with another booming laugh.

Commissioner Gus Johnson, who will likely take over as commission chairman, said he will miss Panabaker’s ability to laugh – especially at himself.

That skill was evident a few weeks ago when Panabaker wished the people gathered for a meeting a “Merry Christmas.” As soon as the words came out, Panabaker apologized and let out a somewhat sheepish giggle.

“Ah, I said Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays. I never do anything correct.”

Johnson said Panabaker has a wonderful ability to put people at ease.

“He can really temper a crowd and get people to work together,” Johnson said. “He’s an excellent leader.”

Panabaker feels he has accomplished a lot since his initial 1994 election to the county commission.

He ran for office at the same time Dick Compton, now a state senator, was seeking the other open commission seat. Both men touted platforms of fewer taxes and less government, which Panabaker said everyone does when “they don’t know what they are talking about.”

Panabaker said Kootenai County was struggling when he and Compton took office in January 1995. The jail was overcrowded. There weren’t enough courtrooms. The administration building was too small and employees were working in converted bathrooms. The county was paying about $180,000 in rent each year because it didn’t own its own office buildings.

A decade later all those issues have been solved – at least for now. County residents passed the half-cent local option sales tax to pay for the $12 million jail expansion. There’s a new administration building and the county no longer rents a single building.

Yet, the jail is once again overcrowded and there are so many new employees with Kootenai County’s growth that the administration building is getting cramped.

But, Panabaker said, the county is in a better position now and it will be much easier to pay for future expansions. The sheriff is anticipating a countywide vote either this year or next to extend the half-cent sales tax to pay for another jail expansion. And because the county is no longer paying rent, it will have the ability to finance an administration building expansion.

One of the most controversial highlights of Panabaker’s political career has resurfaced in the last few weeks, when a leak was found at Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway’s 500,000-gallon refueling depot near Hauser.

A fractured 8-inch plastic pipe carrying wastewater with small amounts of diesel fuel and motor oil apparently went undetected over the aquifer for more than three months.

The 2000 debate about whether to put the refueling depot over the Rathdrum Prairie drew protests from thousands of people, including many who signed a petition vowing to make sure Panabaker was never re-elected.

Panabaker said it was a surprise when he did win re-election in 2000.

He still believes the refueling depot was the right thing and that the state-of-the art facility is good for the area. He maintains that the recent leak isn’t that bad and that it’s giving all the naysayers a chance to scream, “I told you so.”

“(The depot) is a very positive thing for Kootenai County,” Panabaker said. “And it’s a positive for the country and the movement of freight and military equipment.”

The naysayers are what Panabaker liked least about the job. He said the “Not in My Back Yard” and “Citizens Against Virtually Everything” types “don’t want to hear the truth because their minds are already made up.”

“People feel they pay your wages and have the right to beat the hell out of you,” Panabaker said.

Despite that, Panabaker’s favorite part of the job was working with people, especially county employees.

“I just love it when we can accomplish something that positive,” he said. “It’s stressful and hard work but I got to work with great people.”

The county is having a farewell party for Panabaker from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday at the Kootenai County Administration Building, 451 Government Way. The public is invited.

Commissioner-elect Brodie will be sworn into office Jan. 10 at 10 a.m. The commission will meet after the ceremony to elect a new chairman.

For more information, call the County Commission Office at 446-1600.