Bonner County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026

Cory Gabel is the Republican candidate for Bonner County Assessor. Gabel currently serves as Chief Deputy Assessor and was selected by outgoing Assessor Dennis Engelhardt to continue the office's work, per his campaign site. Gabel is a lifelong Bonner County resident who attended Sandpoint High School and the University of Idaho, per the campaign site. Gabel's platform emphasizes standardizing office procedures and public education on Idaho's assessment laws, per the campaign site.

Roger N. Rudd is a retired United States Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel who returned to North Idaho after a career of service and leadership, per his campaign site. He is involved with the Kootenai County Veterans Treatment Court and the Priest River Valley Back Country Horsemen, and volunteers with local 4-H youth activities, per his campaign site.

Steve Smith is the Republican candidate for Bonner County Commissioner, District 1. Smith is an attorney with 47 years of legal practice in Sandpoint, including legal counsel for cities, fire districts, water districts and sewer boards, per his campaign site. Smith has also served as Vice President of the Association of Idaho City Attorneys and chairman of the board of Bonner Gospel Mission, Inc, per the campaign site. Smith's platform emphasizes protecting private property rights and fiscal responsibility, per the campaign site.

Jeff Roberts first moved to Bonner County in 1990 and later worked as a general contractor building residential homes and on civil construction projects across the Northwest, per his campaign site. He and his family returned to North Idaho in 2019, per his campaign site.

Karen Matthee earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a graduate degree from Northwestern University, and worked earlier in her career as a journalist before moving into nonprofit work, per her campaign site. She ran for the same District 1A seat in 2024 and is running again in 2026, per the Bonner County Daily Bee.

Jane Sauter has lived in Bonner County for about ten years and describes herself as a lifelong Republican who has been involved in the pro-life movement since her teens, per her campaign site. She prevailed over sitting Rep. Mark Sauter in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary election for the District 1 Seat A nomination, per the Bonner County Daily Bee, and her site lists fiscal responsibility, school choice, and immigration enforcement among her priorities. The Idaho Legislature's membership roster lists Mark Sauter as the sitting member for this seat, a different person with the same surname; Jane Sauter is not the incumbent.

Heather Scott has represented Idaho House District 2 since being elected in 2014, per her campaign site. She has worked on citizen engagement efforts including public talks on legislative issues and update newsletters, per the same source.

Kathryn Larson holds a bachelor of science degree in geology from Southern Methodist University and previously worked at UPS in leadership and project roles, per her campaign site. She ran for the same District 1B seat in 2024 as the Democratic nominee and is running as an independent in 2026, per the Bonner County Daily Bee.