Incumbents win trustee elections

BONNERS FERRY — Incumbents were re-elected May 19 in the Boundary County library trustee and school board elections.

School Board president David Brinkman locked in another four years with 90 votes to 58 for challenger Justin C. Pluid.

Absentee votes were nearly even, with Brinkman receiving 40 to Pluid’s 58, but voting day turned out 50 Brinkman supporters to Pluid’s 22.

For the library board, Ken Blockhan, Jr. defeated Robert Vickaryous 59 votes to 35 for the Zone 1 trustee position. For the Zone 2 library trustee position, incumbent Wendy McClintock eked out a two-vote win over challenger Jacque Tanner, receiving 42 votes to Tanner’s 40.

Kathy Diddock received 22 votes in the three-way race. Election day voting favored Tanner, who received 31 votes to McClintock’s 24.

School district voters seem to support Brinkman’s efforts to foster a more transparent school board and desire for community input.

Many library users are excited about the efforts to incorporate digital learning into the library’s array of resources, including new online learning computers, fabrication and business development labs the library has built into the basement, using grant money and their existing budget.