Lester “Les” Pinkerton is announcing his candidacy for District 1 Boundary County Commissioner, currently held by Wally Cossairt. “Retirement brought me back home to Bonners Ferry. I want to give back to this community which instilled the values and work ethic that helped me excel,” he said.
Les is from a local, multi-generational farming family. He was educated at Mt. Hall Elementary School and then Bonners Ferry High School. His work experience started young, working family farms, the local feed mill, heavy equipment and construction. He furthered his education at North Idaho College and finished with a degree in Forestry which led to a 32 year career with the U.S. Forest Service beginning in timber sale layout, surveying and wildland firefighting.
During his career, he was certified as a federal Law Enforcement Officer working in Alaska and Washington, ending in South Dakota while managing the Law Enforcement programs for five National Forests over four states. He participated in special operations, which took him to Washington D.C. and National Forests all over the country. He eventually became the Center Director for Job Corp, a residential learning program for at-risk youth.
To this day, he still has passion for supporting our youth and sees them as the future of our community.
Presently he is completing a term on the Boundary County Republican Central Committee, as Vice-Chairman. He believes that the Idaho Republican Party’s Platform is foundational for any candidate to uphold and would like your support in remembering to cast your vote for him during the upcoming 2024 Republican Primary.
“I now wish to use my experience of managing extensive budgets, organizing agency collaborations and overseeing intense situations, and my knowledge of our dynamic community to continue my service to the citizens of Boundary County,” he said.
You can reach out to Lester Pinkerton and email him at: Pinkerton4Commissioner@gmail.com.
Lester Pinkerton first caught my attention at a 2022 Candidate Forum when he ran and was later successfully elected as North Bonners Ferry Republican Precinct Committeeman. He was the best speaker of all the candidates that evening. He has a forceful delivery and knows how to project a clear message. He knows his topics well and doesn’t beat around the bush. If elected, he will be replacing Wally Cossairt … who also served us well. He believes that the Boundary County Republican Central Committee should recruit and facilitate all Republican candidates choosing to run for office during the primary election(s), yet withholding endorsements until the voters have chosen who will proceed to the general election(s). That is the way it has been, historically.
His common sense approach & professional demeanor will serve us well on the Board of County Commissioners.