Korn named to Bonner Commissioner seat

SANDPOINT — Ron Korn will be sworn in as Bonner County commissioner for District 3 on Monday morning.

Korn was appointed by Gov. Brad Little on Friday to fill the remaining three months of Luke Omodt's term after the former county commissioner stepped down Sept. 7. 

Korn, who is the party's nominee for the position in the Nov. 5 general election, was the top pick by the Bonner County Republican Central Committee. Also selected as potential replacements were Tom Cleveland, Oden Precinct committeeman; and Kim Peckham, Hope Precinct committee person. State statute requires the party list the three in order of preference with Korn ranked as the top choice, Cleveland second and Peckham third. Also nominated, but not selected, was Cary Kelly, a former commissioner.

"After decades of community service to Bonner County, I am blessed with the honor to serve in a much higher capacity as your county commissioner," Korn said in a statement to the Daily Bee.

The people elected him as their Republican commissioner candidate going into the general election in November, Korn said. 

In the general election Nov. 5, Korn who will face Glenn Lefebvre, who is running as an independent.

"I pray that I’m successful so that I may continue to serve our community for at least the next four years," he added. "I am one of three County Commissioners of which I will do my part to bring back proper decorum in our public meetings, build greater public relations between the people and their government and to boost morale within the county departments."

Korn said he has spent countless hours building relations within the county government over the past few months in the event he is elected to the post.

"I am amazed at how many great people we are blessed to have representing the people of our community and the employees that are dedicated to making our county great," Korn said. "Thank you for your support as I truly look forward to serving the people of our great county and moving us into the future with a constitutional republic government as originally intended."

Korn will replace former county commissioner Luke Omodt, who announced his plans to step down in a brief, two-sentence letter to county clerk Michael Rosedale on Aug. 20. The resignation took effect Sept. 7.

The selection of three potential candidates was made earlier by the resignation taking place during an election year, Scott Herndon, Bonner County Republican Central Committee chair, previously told the Daily Bee.

"Outside of an election cycle this would be a little harder because we would have to work a little harder to find what we believe are qualified candidates," Herndon said previously. "But in this case, with it being so close to the general election, Ron was our endorsed candidate in the May primary and, of course, he won the May primary and so he's the Republican nominee … so [it was] sort of an easy choice for us."

Herndon said he appreciated Idaho Gov. Brad Little appointing Korn as the BCRCC's endorsed and recommended candidate. Also thanked by the BCRCC chair were the more than 30 precinct committeemen and officers who volunteered their time to rate, vet and endorse candidates nominated to replace Omodt.

He said he anticipated that Korn would be "thoughtful and effective" in the seat, bringing dignity and honor to the office while working to "responsibly represent everyone in Bonner County while also respecting the Constitution and the traditions of the American republic."