Exposing the KCRCC’s Rigged Vetting Process: How Kootenai County Voters Are Being Misled

Introduction

At Liberty Without Compromise, we have long warned that the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) vetting process is not transparent, not fair, and not truly serving voters. What they call “vetting” is in reality a rigged system designed to protect insiders and manipulate elections.

From firsthand experience in early 2024, when Dan Wilson went through their process, to recent accounts from candidates running today, the evidence is overwhelming: the KCRCC’s recommendations are not based on fairness or merit but on favoritism and backroom politics.

With the November 4th election approaching, the KCRCC’s “recommendation card” has already been circulated, and because so many voters take that card to the polls, candidates excluded from the process are starting at a severe disadvantage. This is not grassroots conservatism. This is machine politics controlled by Brent Regan and a small circle of insiders.

A Pattern of Bias and Rigged Outcomes

When Dan Wilson entered the KCRCC vetting process during his campaign, committee members openly displayed bias. Some even attacked him at his own campaign events, while others were simultaneously campaigning for his opponent, Sheriff Bob Norris. That is not impartial vetting, it is a stacked deck.

Fast forward to today, and nothing has changed. Candidates across Kootenai County are speaking out about being excluded from the process, and screenshots of their accounts are circulating on social media. Instead of addressing these failures, the KCRCC dismisses criticism as “fake news” and blames candidates for not chasing them down to request an interview.

The Case of Fire Commissioner Candidate Jason Charter

One of the clearest examples of the KCRCC’s broken process comes from Michaela Charter, wife of firefighter and fire commissioner candidate Jason Charter.

Jason has 18 years of firefighting experience, nearly 35 years as a North Idaho resident, and deep roots in faith, family, and service. Despite his qualifications, Jason never received an invitation from the KCRCC to participate in their so-called vetting process. Neither did most of the other candidates in his race. Two out of three were excluded entirely.

The KCRCC then went further, claiming publicly that these candidates “chose not to respond.” That is a lie. These men and women were erased from the process, not because they were unqualified, but because they weren’t the chosen insiders.

Candidate Renee Mullen and the “Lost Email” Excuse

Another example comes from Renee Mullen, who is running for Rathdrum City Council, Seat 3.

Renee was promised a candidate questionnaire from the KCRCC, but they got her email address wrong. By the time they admitted their mistake, endorsements had already gone out. Renee never even had the chance to be vetted.

Instead of correcting their error, the KCRCC moved forward and endorsed her opponent, John Hodgkins, despite his troubling record of voting against property rights and recusing himself from votes.

Renee is now speaking out publicly, anticipating the KCRCC’s spin: that she “chose not to participate.” This is not just incompetence, it is blameshifting, gaslighting, and deliberate exclusion.

Gaslighting the Public: Mary White’s Defense

When candidates and citizens call out these failures, KCRCC members rush to defend the process online. One of the most vocal defenders is Mary White, who also sits on the committee.

Instead of addressing legitimate complaints, her playbook is predictable:

• Discredit first: She labels concerns as “fake news.”

• Shift blame: She claims it’s the candidates’ responsibility to go on the KCRCC website and request vetting.

• Lower expectations: She calls outreach by phone or email a mere “courtesy,” framing the committee’s failures as the candidates’ problem.

• Illusion of rigor: She references background checks and interviews to make the process appear thorough, even though multiple candidates confirm they were never contacted at all.

This is not accountability. It is manipulation and spin designed to protect the KCRCC’s monopoly on political influence.

A Rigged System With Real Consequences

The KCRCC’s tactics follow a consistent pattern:

1. Exclude candidates who are not part of the insider circle.
2. Blame the candidates for supposedly not responding.
3. Funnel endorsements to loyal “chosen ones” who will toe the line, regardless of their record.

This manipulation matters because the KCRCC’s recommendation card carries real weight at the polls. Many voters trust the card as a shortcut, assuming the candidates on it were fairly vetted. In reality, some of the most qualified candidates in Kootenai County never even had the chance to be considered.

Why This Matters to Voters

When groups like the KCRCC claim to stand for conservative values while operating in secrecy and deception, they betray the very voters they claim to represent.

• Integrity is lost when candidates are denied even the opportunity to be interviewed.

• Transparency is gone when the process is hidden and manipulated.

• Voter trust is undermined when endorsements are based on loyalty and insider deals instead of qualifications.

This is not conservatism. It is corruption masquerading as leadership.

What Voters Can Do

The good news is that voters are not powerless. As Michaela Charter rightly pointed out, the solution is simple: do your own research.

• Meet the candidates.

• Ask them questions directly.

• Look at their records, their experience, and their vision for the community.

• Don’t rely on a recommendation card produced by a handful of insiders with their own agenda.

By seeking out the truth for ourselves, we can break the KCRCC’s stranglehold on local elections and restore integrity to Kootenai County politics.

Conclusion

The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee claims to represent the voice of local conservatives, but their actions tell a very different story. From excluding candidates like Jason Charter and Renee Mullen to gaslighting the public through figures like Mary White, the KCRCC has shown that its process is neither transparent nor fair.

Voters deserve better than rigged vetting and manipulated endorsements. The only way to ensure fair elections is to reject political machines and demand accountability.

At the end of the day, the KCRCC’s recommendation card is only worth as much as the truth behind it. And right now, that truth is clear: it’s a stacked deck.