Eve Knudtsen, the KCRCC, and Questionnaires
TRANSPARENCY – Several organizations sent questionnaires for candidates to submit. Several were progressive groups outside of Idaho, and I chose not to participate. Others seemed legit until you read the questionnaires, which had nothing to do with NIC Trustees’ race, nor did they represent Idaho values, so I chose not to participate in those.
I completed the KCRCC questionnaire clearly stating my positions and was informed that it would be published online and in print. The person from KCRCC responsible for collecting our responses assured me that my answers would be published exactly as I submitted them. However, when I checked the KCRCC online voter guide, I noticed that only the three NIC candidates they recruited were prominently featured, which I suspected would be true. They are lacking transparency.
Based on their communications with me, I didn’t expect that you would have to jump through hoops if you wanted to see any other candidates’ responses (like mine). Within their online voter guide, you must scroll ALL THE WAY DOWN to the very bottom of the page to find a very small button that reads “View all candidate submissions”. When you click that little button, you are directed to enter a password to read the other submissions. Yes, you must have a password before reading the promised information. There are no instructions on the password or how to obtain one.
This tactic keeps voters from having all the information they need to make an informed choice. They are no doubt struggling with my answers because I make no bones about it: I am a conservative Republican! So, they’re making it difficult for you to access my answers. That’s probably because they have been painting me with their “progressive liberal” paintbrush because I am a conservative who knows how to work with many different individuals from across many ideologies, finding common ground to do good work in this community without compromising conservative values!
In light of this, I am posting my complete responses to the KCRCC questionnaire, along with all the other questionnaires I submitted. I believe these questionnaires from different organizations address important issues for voters.
I am running to keep North Idaho College operating at its highest level and return to full accreditation, which will save us from the brink of closure. I want to protect our local taxpayers’ money and stop the flow of excessive spending caused by the current board majority’s poor decision-making.
With over thirty years of proven profitable success managing a multi-million-dollar company and a track record of leadership on community, state, and national boards, I bring a wealth of board governance knowledge and experience to this role, especially in economic development. I have the skills, education, and temperament to be an effective trustee.
I want to improve communication with all stakeholders, return to a fiscally conservative budget, and ensure student success. (Students must have confidence in the value of their education to enter the workforce or go on to a four-year institution.) We need to adopt a long-overdue strategic plan that the board majority has not addressed in over a decade. The first order of business is putting the accreditation challenges in the rearview mirror.
Cost of Living in Kootenai County
These topics may not fall under the role of a trustee and are my sole opinions. Kootenai County’s cost of living is too high and unsustainable. Although NIC attracts businesses paying higher wages by providing a talent pipeline, housing costs are rising faster than wage increases.
President Trump
I’m a Republican, and whether you like Trump or not, our economy was far more stable under his leadership for my industry and my employees. We need to return to that strong economy.
Ranked Choice Voting
I hate ranked choice voting and support primaries where parties choose their candidates. One person, one vote.
Parental Rights
I support parental rights for minor children, allowing parents to make decisions for their families without government overreach.
Immigration
Open borders have not and never will work. I support pathways to citizenship for individuals with legal reasons to apply. I do not support illegal immigrants staying in our country while they undergo the process. We need better accountability to ensure the pathway is consistent for all.
2nd Amendment
We are a household of gun owners. I believe in the Second Amendment so passionately that my customers will receive a flag and rifle with every truck sold in October.
Public Education, School Choice, and Home Schooling
I support equal access to educational opportunities and choices. I am proud to live in a state that allows parents school choice.
Wokeism, including Critical Race Theory (CRT), Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and racial preferential treatment
I’m firmly against CRT, DEI, and affirmative action (two of which are illegal in Idaho). Individuals should succeed or fail on their ability and skill (merit). Gender, race, or any demographic identifier should never be considered.
Full Name: Eve L. Knudtsen
Profession: President of Knudtsen Auto Group
Highest level of education completed: Post Graduate Degree
Degrees and Professional certifications: Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
Civic Organizations or nonprofit board service: Current board member and Past Chair of the Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation, current appointee to the Idaho Economic Advisory Council, current Chair of the General Motors Women Dealer’s Advisory Council, current board member and Immediate Past Chair of the Idaho Automobile Dealers Association. Over thirty years, served as a member and/or chair of numerous civic and charitable organizations in Kootenai County in addition to those I currently serve.
Marital status: Married
Family: Husband Wayne Cofield, Daughter Lauren Traw and son-in-law Jack Traw, grandchildren Hazel and Benedict Traw, and daughter Kendra Cofield.
With over thirty years of proven success in profitably managing a multi-million-dollar company and a track-proven record of leadership in the community, state, and national boards, I bring a wealth of board governance expertise to this role. My specific education in organizational leadership further enhances my qualifications, making me the ideal candidate for this position.
The role of the NIC Trustee is integral to the effective governance of the college. Trustees work collaboratively to ensure the college remains mission-directed and has a well-defined strategic plan to fulfill its educational mission. This includes overseeing the selection of a president who will provide strong leadership for the faculty and staff and advocate for the college in the local community, state, and region. Additionally, Trustees play a crucial role in stewarding the college’s assets and financial status, ensuring that resources are managed responsibly and effectively to support the college in achieving its mission of providing high-quality education to its students.
My understanding of why NIC is on show-cause status is that the majority of members of the current and prior Board of Trustees made decisions that caused the faculty, staff, students, and much of the local community to lose confidence in the governance of the Board. Their decisions have cost the college millions of dollars in legal fees, settlements, and insurance loss. While the college has worked with the recommendations of the NWCCU, the most critical issue of board governance remains unresolved. To resolve this issue, it will take new board members who listen to stakeholders, work with college leadership, and set policies that drive the college’s mission while upholding its fiduciary responsibility. I understand board governance – what is required and how to do it. We can restore the complete confidence of the NWCCU and stakeholders by replacing those board members who have caused so much harm to NIC with solid citizens who will demonstrate respect for others, demand transparency, and understand the role of a trustee; only then will NIC continue to be a gem in our community without fear of losing accreditation.
I do support some state taxpayer funding for higher education institutions in Idaho. Approximately 28% of the budget will come from the state general fund. I believe this funding provides an affordable opportunity for all students in Idaho to gain the training, skills, and education to be employed by Idaho employers, making Idaho businesses more competitive on a local, state, regional, and national level. This results in our strong local economy.
I have lived in Kootenai County for a lifetime and have proudly operated a successful business in the community for thirty years. Throughout my life, I have dedicated myself to serving on local nonprofit boards, striving to make Kootenai County the best place to work, live, and raise a family. Through this experience, I have gained invaluable insights into effective board governance.
I have been passionately involved in improving educational opportunities for local students. By investing in KTEC, I have enabled high school students to receive training for a certificate in a professional technical field or pursue a college professional technical certificate program or degree. Additionally, I have supported the partnership between local school districts and NIC to provide dual enrollment, allowing high school students to earn an associate degree while fulfilling their graduation requirements and creating a more affordable higher educational pathway.
Understanding the crucial balance between educational opportunities for local students and the needs of businesses and industries for skilled, trained employees, I have worked to foster a thriving economy essential for our strong community. Moreover, I recognize the potentially devastating impact on our local economy from the loss of accreditation and the closure of NIC – including the loss of 1300 good-paying jobs and a $60 million loss to the local economy.
It is imperative to remove politicized agendas that have jeopardized our college’s future this election. By doing so, we can ensure that wasteful spending, disrespect, and poor governance end, allowing NIC to thrive well into the future.
TOPIC: Community Engagement and Development
As a board member of the Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation and a member of the Idaho Economic Development Council, I continually promote the link between North Idaho College and workforce training and development that fill the need of business and industry in our community. Business and industry in our community includes all sectors including real estate and development that is crucial to economic growth.
TOPIC: Community Engagement and Development
My strategy is continually promoting that our strong economy rests like the seat of a stool on three legs in our community: education, workforce and business and industry development. If any one of those three legs of the stool is compromised, it would weaken our strong economy.
TOPIC: Workforce Development and Housing Affordability
I have a proven history of developing relationships between industry and NIC. I support the creation of advisory boards that would connect students and include alumni with decision-makers in real estate and urban planning as it is in construction.
TOPIC: Workforce Development and Housing Affordability
I’m not certain this falls into the role of trustee, however as an employer in our community, I face similar challenges amongst my employees in finding housing that is affordable. While wages are increasing, they have not kept up with the rate that housing costs have increased. I welcome the opportunity to work with municipalities and business to find out of the box solutions to this problem.
TOPIC: Land Use and Campus Expansion
I would ensure that any action by the board of trustees was continued in the nature and culture of the neighborhood that the college resides and that any changes would go through the full community notification process to ensure transparency and offer an opportunity for public input.
TOPIC: Land Use and Campus Expansion
As a trustee, I would advocate the creation of an ad hoc or advisory committee on a case-by-case basis where realtors would be invited to contribute their knowledge and expertise. In the case of expansion, realtors would play a critical role in the process.
TOPIC: Tax and Economic Impacts
In my role as trustee, I have a fiscal responsibility to make sure North Idaho College has a balanced budget that helps accomplish the college and president’s strategic plan, which has not been updated in a decade, while carefully considering the impact to the county property taxpayer. Outside of this fiduciary role as trustee, trustees do not have a direct role in how real estate values are impacted. The market decides values according to supply and demand in a specific industry.
I hope to utilize my experience serving on various boards to address the governance issues and regain full accreditation for the college. As a Trustee, I am committed to promoting open communication among stakeholders, the president, his staff, faculty, students, and the community. I will strive to facilitate collaboration among the Trustees and between the president and the board to ensure the adoption of a strategic plan, policies, and the fulfillment of the college’s mission.
My understanding of the role trustees play in setting policies and procedures for the college and trustees work with the college president in setting those policies and procedures that advance the college’s mission. As a trustee, I will support the executive team by listening to their viewpoints and recommendations, and I will work with the president and his team to establish policies and procedures that advance the strategic plan and fulfill the mission of the college.
I believe the Idaho State Constitution requires the legislature to provide funding for higher education from the General Fund. Specifically, there are endowment funds that may only be used for that purpose. If the legislature did not appropriate other funds for higher education including community colleges, and a budget shortfall were to occur, the college president and his staff would need to recommend a way to balance the budget of NIC. Since NIC funding is derived from federal and state funding, tuition, fees, and property taxes, I imagine tough decisions on all verticals would be discussed by staff before presenting to the trustees for approval.
As a trustee, I would work with the Board and the college president to fulfill my fiduciary responsibility and ensure that the college can continue to fulfill its mission to its students and our community and protect the investment of Kootenai County property tax payers.
The NWCCU has indicated board leadership as the primary factor threatening NIC accreditation. How will you provide good leadership and ensure continued accreditation? Please be specific.
As I have already stated, the role of the Trustee is to support the president and his staff in setting policies and procedures that ensure the college fulfills its mission. In addition, the Trustees adopt budgets that balance programs and services with revenue and serve the needs of the students while improving student outcomes. In addition, my experience as a member of many national, state and local boards, I have demonstrated my ability to listen to stakeholders and collaborate with those stakeholders to communicate vision, set policy and accomplish the organizational mission.
The college is not currently operating at a deficit and enrollment is up 15% this year, but if that operating environment were to occur, I would work with the college president, other trustees and stakeholders to be fiscally responsible in setting a budget that balances priorities with revenue streams and protect the investment of Kootenai County property tax payers.
I am a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry. I work in my industry and my community to help other women succeed and become leaders. I believe we all deserve an opportunity, but specific policies that create classes of individuals do not result in a level playing field open to all. I believe in creating policies that protect the opportunities for all students to be successful and align with the college mission.
North Idaho College is an important driver of prosperity in our community. Without it, there would not be a ready, skilled and educated workforce available to fill the need of business and industry for qualified personnel in our community. This would devastate our economy as businesses hampered by a lack of available personnel would have to consider relocating where access to employees exists. EMSI research concluded that approximately 1300 jobs and 60 million dollars in our local economy would be lost with the closure of NIC, and the loss of accreditation would lead to that eventuality. Strong educational opportunities provided by NIC lead to more robust employment opportunities for NIC certificate and degree holders, which lead to more substantial businesses and industries that equate to a strong community. Together, we are stronger.
Master’s Degree
No.
North Idaho College Trustee
Campaign website and/or social media accounts
FB EveforNIC
Have you opened a campaign account for fundraising?
YES!
Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation
Idaho Dept of Commerce Economic Advisory Council.
Idaho Automobile Dealers Association, NIBCA PAC, SaveNICNow.
I want to return NIC to full accreditation and help the college work to fulfill its mission to its students and the community.
