Group seeks recall of Boundary County clerk

BONNERS FERRY —- A recall being organized against Boundary County Clerk Glenda Poston is claiming election fraud in connection to the Boundary County Library.

Cherry Grainger, Boundary County Elections clerk, told the Bonners Ferry Herald that the petition for Poston’s recall was submitted Aug. 19 by Lee Haarstick. A former Boundary County Library Board trustee, Haarstick is the father of one of the self-proclaimed whistleblowers involved in the tort claim against the library district.

Haarstick’s attorney, Jeffery Boiler, is also representing those who filed the library tort claim. Among those filing that claim is Boiler’s wife, Dana, who had applied to the library’s director position in 2019.

Grainger asked for a blank copy of the petition, since it is the county’s policy to approve a petition with the county attorney, Tevis Hull prior to petition running.

On Monday, Aug. 22, the petition organizers returned to the Clerk’s office to submit the petition with the 20 required signatures and a blank petition document. As of Thursday, Aug. 26, Hull has not approved the petition. At the first review by Hull, the required explanation exceeded 200 words, which is not allowed by Idaho Code. The group was told the recall petition had to be revised and resubmitted. As of the afternoon of Aug. 26, the petition has not been re-submitted.

Claims the petition was not approved due to Poston being on vacation or the staff refusing to accept the petition are incorrect, Grainger said.

The petition was rejected simply because organizers did not follow county procedure. She added that having a petition approved by legal council is not required by Idaho Code, but is something the county likes to do.

The Bonners Ferry Herald will continue to follow this story.