Primary Candidate Forums Planned in Clark Fork and Sandpoint Ahead of Idaho’s May 19 Election
Bonner County, Idaho — Residents across Idaho Legislative District 1 and Bonner County will have multiple opportunities to hear directly from primary election candidates before the Tuesday, May 19 election, with three public forums scheduled across Clark Fork and Sandpoint in the coming days.
The forums arrive at a busy moment in North Idaho politics, with contested races for legislative seats, county commissioner, county clerk, county assessor, district judge, and coroner all on the primary ballot. Voters seeking to compare candidates before heading to the polls will have organized, moderated events to attend — or can tune in from home via live broadcast.
Clark Fork Forum Opens the Series
The first event in the series is set for Thursday, April 30, at 6 p.m. at the Clark Fork Community Center, located at 1001 N. Cedar St. in Clark Fork. The Bonner County Farm Bureau is hosting the forum, which will bring together candidates running for Bonner County commissioner, county clerk, assessor, district judge, and coroner.
The Clark Fork forum gives residents in the eastern end of Bonner County a local venue to engage with candidates before the primary. Those county offices carry significant authority over local governance, land records, tax administration, the courts, and public safety — making the Clark Fork event a meaningful opportunity for voters in that part of the county to size up the field.
Two Sandpoint Forums Follow at the High School Auditorium
The series continues with back-to-back forums at Sandpoint High School, located at 410 S. Division Ave., on both Monday, May 4 and Tuesday, May 5, each running from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The events are co-presented by a coalition of local and regional outlets: 88.5 KRFY Panhandle Community Radio, the Bonner County Daily Bee, the Sandpoint Reader, SandpointOnline.com, and the Selkirk Association of Realtors.
The May 4 forum will be hosted by the Bonner County Daily Bee and will feature candidates running for Idaho District 1 legislative seats. Races in Idaho’s legislative districts have drawn increased attention heading into this primary cycle, with candidates staking out positions on issues ranging from state spending and education funding to property rights and local control. Voters interested in who may represent them in the Idaho Legislature will want to attend or tune in. For background on the District 1A race specifically, incumbent Mark Sauter is seeking reelection to his District 1A seat, while Republican gubernatorial candidates have also been offering differing approaches to key Idaho policy questions this primary season.
The May 5 forum will be hosted by the Sandpoint Reader and will focus on candidates for contested Bonner County offices. Sandpoint Reader Publisher Ben Olson will serve as moderator for that event.
Both Sandpoint forums will be broadcast live and streamed by 88.5 KRFY Panhandle Community Radio, ensuring voters who cannot attend in person can still follow the proceedings. Both newspapers will provide coverage of the events following the broadcasts.
Candidate Questionnaires Also Available
Voters looking to do additional research before the forums can find completed questionnaires from candidates running for contested District 1 legislative and Bonner County offices in the current print edition of the Sandpoint Reader, beginning on page 18. The questionnaires offer a written record of where candidates stand on key issues ahead of the May 19 primary.
Participation in local primary elections — including down-ballot county offices — directly shapes the quality of governance in Bonner County. Offices such as county commissioner, assessor, and clerk affect property taxes, public records access, and budget decisions that touch nearly every resident.
What Comes Next
The Clark Fork Farm Bureau forum takes place April 30 at 6 p.m. at the Clark Fork Community Center. The Sandpoint legislative forum follows on May 4, with the county office forum on May 5, both at Sandpoint High School from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Idaho primary election is Tuesday, May 19. Voters are encouraged to review sample ballots, confirm polling locations, and check registration status ahead of election day.