Community supports Senator Jim Woodward

In response to the BF Herald's front-page story in the May 27 edition: "Bonner County GOP asks Woodward to leave party".

As a long-time Boundary County resident & conservative Republican, I can tell you most assuredly that the majority of Boundary County supports our state senator, Jim Woodward.

Jim was raised here in Bonners Ferry, attended school in the county, and went to the University of Idaho, where he received a mechanical engineering degree. He joined the armed services and retired as a Navy commander. He owns a construction business and employs several people. Jim understands our Idaho communities, our schools, and our local forest products and agriculture economies. He is intelligent, hardworking, humble, and thoughtful. Boundary County residents from both parties admire this good man and respect his public service.

Unfortunately, the Bonner County Republican Central Committee has been taken over by the "extreme" right wing of the Republican Party, acting as a pawn for the Idaho Freedom Foundation. The IFF is comprised of malcontents that recently moved to Idaho with their extreme, paranoid viewpoints. They bully and intimidate state legislators to force them to vote for their extreme legislation. This is not the Idaho way. The IFF and their pawns are "unAmerican" and they, ironically, are the real threat to our freedoms and democracy.

The IFF and their pawns do not represent you or Boundary County. They are here to gain power and money at our expense. That's it. They will tell you again and again, that they are here protecting your liberty and freedoms. Not true. Don't be fooled. Senator Jim Woodward represents you at the Idaho Legislature. He works hard, listens, makes good decisions, and votes for beneficial legislation because he is one of us — a rational, normal, long-term, community member. He does not and will not fold under the pressure from the IFF.

KENNON McCLINTOCK

Moyie Springs